Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 January 2024
122. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the date on which the export tariff phase of the small-scale renewable energy support scheme will be launched; to outline the supports that will be available to community projects under the SRESS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3398/24]
View answerThrough the first two Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) auctions, my Department provided pathways and supports for communities to participate in renewable energy projects through the application of a community projects category.
Through my Department’s continued engagement with Renewable Energy Communities (RECs), there is evidence of significant challenges that REC projects may face with the auction based nature of RESS, along with other barriers to project delivery.
Therefore, support for communities for the development of renewable projects will now transition to the Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS). SRESS will not be auction based; rather it is anticipated that support for export projects will be through an export tariff.
This export tariff phase of SRESS, which will support small scale and community renewable projects, is due to launch in the coming months. It will offer a simpler route to market for community projects, aligning more closely to their experience and capacity. A revision of the levelised cost of energy estimates required for small scale and community based generation is currently being undertaken by economic consultants for my Department, in order to inform the tariff setting process for the SRESS.
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.
