Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 February 2024
157. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the specific Government targets and timelines for community electricity generation projects; the amount of energy that community electricity generation projects currently generate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6126/24]
View answerThe Climate Action Plan sets a target of up to 500MW of community energy by 2030. Through 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.
Currently, there are two community projects energised under the RESS which generate an estimated 8.6 GWh of renewable energy annually in addition to other community projects operating outside the scheme.
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.
The SRESS 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.
