Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 March 2024
121. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has been consulted by and or if he has engaged with the CRU in respect of the establishment of a second annual application window for renewable energy projects to connect to the electricity grid; if his attention has been drawn to a petition in respect of same and his views on same. [12840/24]
View answerEnduring Connection Policy 2 (ECP-2) is the second stage of the development of enduring connection policy in Ireland. In June 2020 the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published their decision on ECP-2, which set policy for at least three annual batches of connection offers (ECP 2.1, ECP-2.2, and ECP-2.3). The final iteration of ECP, which was comprised of one annual application window, was ECP 2.4 and opened for applications in October last year.
The CRU held a public consultation, which closed on 16 February 2024, on the successor to ECP (‘the ‘Electricity Generation and System Services Connection’ Policy), the responses to which will inform the introduction of a new policy framework to connect onshore generators, storage and other systems services technology projects to the grid. Among other matters, the paper sought responses on the potential for more frequent grid connection application batches, locational signals, hybrid generation projects and repowering.
Delivery of this task is a matter for the CRU, which is an independent regulator, accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas and not me as Minister. However, I am aware of the CRU’s ‘minded-to’ approach to introduce a bi-annual batch application process without caps for renewable generators as set out in the public consultation. In addition, my officials have been engaging with CRU on the development of this important new policy in relation to compliance with Article 16 of the Renewable Energy Directive which provides for mandatory permitting deadlines and must be transposed by 01 July, 2024. My officials look forward to their continued engagement with CRU as they continue to develop this important policy which will be published in Q2, this year.
