Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 April 2024
119. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on the SRESS; when he expects details of the scheme to be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17492/24]
View answerThe Small Scale Renewable Support Scheme (SRESS) will support non-domestic renewable electricity generators above 50kW, but smaller than those supported under the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS). This scheme will enable community projects, larger businesses, farms, and public buildings to maximise their participation in the energy transition.
The first phase of SRESS was launched in July 2023. This sees both SRESS and the Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) providing grant support to larger businesses, farms, public buildings, and communities with grants that support solar installations. These non-domestic scheme grants are supporting renewables self-consumers to invest in systems of up to 1MW in size.
The export tariff phase of the SRESS, which will support small scale and community renewable projects, is expected to launch shortly, in Q2 2024. SRESS will offer a simpler route to market for community renewable projects, aligning more closely to their experience and capacity.
In order to reflect up to date trends in input prices and financing costs for renewable energy technologies, an updated analysis of the levelized cost of energy estimates required for small scale and community-based generation has been undertaken by economic consultants in order to inform the tariff setting process for the SRESS.
