Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 January 2024
141. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on community-led energy generation; and the measures the Government has in place to support energy communities. [52582/23]
View answer147. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to report on the progress of the small-scale renewable support scheme; what additional supports are available to renewable energy communities; what measures his Department is taking to address the difficulties that renewable energy communities are facing including connecting to the grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3413/24]
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.
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).
This export tariff phase of SRESS, which will support small scale and community renewable projects, is due in the coming months. It will offer a simpler route to market for community projects and will align more closely to the experience and capacity of the community energy sector.
A set of technical and financial supports for community projects are currently available to communities through the Community Enabling Framework under RESS. Similar supports will be available under SRESS.
In addition, in 2023, the SEAI also undertook five grid studies to support communities in identifying sites that are most likely to have an economically viable grid connection. The initial focus of these studies has been on counties that are most likely to have available grid capacity for smaller generation projects. Further studies are planned for 2024. Also, the CRU published a consultation on a revised electricity generation connection policy in December which considers how community projects can be better supported.
