Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 January 2025
110. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will commit to a programme of installation of solar panels on all public buildings including schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2007/25]
View answerThere are currently a range of schemes underway to support the roll-out of solar PV in Ireland, including for public buildings. The Non-Domestic Microgen grant, as part of the wider Microgeneration Support Scheme, commenced in September 2022. The grant is operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and provides financial assistance to help businesses and other organisations to install solar PV panels to generate electricity on site. An extended funding range of up to €162,600 was introduced in July 2023 to support non-domestic installation sizes up to 1,000 kWp (1 MW) capacity.
Suppliers are now obliged to offer a Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff to new and existing micro-and small-scale generators so that they receive payment for excess renewable electricity that they export to the grid, reflective of the market value. Eligibility criteria and other relevant information is available from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities: Clean Export Guarantee - Enduring Arrangements to Remunerate Customers for Microgeneration Exports | CRU.ie. or on www.cru.ie/publications/28051/
The first phase of the Schools Photovoltaic (PV) Programme was launched in November 2023 to over 1,600 schools. The scheme is funded by the Climate Action Fund in line with the government’s recognition that taking action on climate change is central to Ireland’s social and economic development. The scheme provides eligible schools with 6 kilowatt peak of roof-mounted solar PV, which equates to approximately 14 solar panels.
The first phase has seen over 1,100 schools approved for PV panels, with 1,011 installations completed so far in 11 areas across Ireland. Funding was approved in October 2024 to proceed with solar PV installations on the 2,673 remaining eligible schools in 16 counties – Carlow, Cavan, Cork, Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Westmeath and Wexford. The latest figures indicate that over 2,100 schools in phase two have completed the Expression of Interest stage, and 546 have submitted tenders. This means that of the 4,000 schools in the country, the majority have had Solar PV installed or are currently in the application and tendering process under the scheme.
