Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 December 2023
117. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline the incentives for communities to progress solar energy or wind energy projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54621/23]
View answerThrough the first two Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) auctions, my Department has provided pathways and supports for communities to participate in renewable energy projects through the application of a community projects category and also through the requirement of a mandatory community benefit fund for all RESS projects.
Through my Department’s continued engagement with Renewable Energy Communities (REC), there is evidence of significant challenges that REC projects may face with the competitive, auction based nature of RESS, along with grid and other and other barriers to project delivery.
As a result, support for communities for the development of renewable projects will now transition to the Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS,) where support will be though a feed in tariff without a competitive bidding process.
A set of technical and financial supports for community projects are currently available to communities in a Community Enabling Framework under RESS. Similar supports will be available to community projects under the SRESS.
The export tariff phase of SRESS, to support small scale and community renewable projects, is due to be launched in the coming months. This is expected to offer a simpler route to market for community projects and boost community participation in the Government’s renewable energy ambition.
This scheme will align more closely to the experience and capacity of the community energy sector and support a more sustainable delivery pathway to the renewable energy community target of 500 MW by 2030.
