Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 November 2023
97. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how much has been paid out under the Clean Export Guarantee in 2022 and to date in 2023; how many microgenerators are benefiting from it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50387/23]
View answerThe Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), which is accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas and not to me as Minister, has responsibility for the operation of the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG). In December 2021, the CRU published a Decision on an interim enabling framework for the CEG which outlines the arrangements for its implementation, including eligibility criteria and remuneration methodology.
As part of this, a renewables self-consumer must inform ESB Networks (ESBN) of their intention to install microgeneration via a declaration using the NC6 or equivalent form. ESBN then notify the relevant supplier that there is a registered export capability at the customer’s meter point and provide the meter readings to the supply company. The customer should then engage with their supply company to obtain more information relating to the export tariff on offer and the timing of payments under the clean export guarantee scheme.
As export payments are managed by each supplier company, at different tariff rates, there is no single register which records the total amount of payments made under the CEG in 2022 and 2023. Similarly, there is no single register to record the number of microgenerators exporting to the grid at any one time. However, NC6 form submissions record the number of micro-generators who have registered their export capabilities and may therefore be eligible for CEG remuneration from their supplier. As of 3rd November 2023, ESBN have received 73,286 valid NC6 form applications from micro-generators nationwide. Export tariff setting is being considered in the CRU’s review of the interim framework, which is currently out for consultation, ahead of the publication of an enduring CEG solution. More information is available in this consultation paper, available at the CRU website: www.cru.ie/publications/27659/
