Charlie McConalogue
Ceist:1323. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated cost to the Exchequer of proposals by an organisation (details supplied). [36710/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 26 July 2017
Ceisteanna (1323)
Freagraí scríofa
The long term vision for the agricultural sector is based on an approach to carbon neutrality, but which does not compromise capacity for sustainable food production. A key consideration in the move towards carbon neutrality will be cost effective technology and continued research and development.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) publishes and maintains a Triple E Register of energy efficient products and equipment. Currently the Triple E product Register is based solely on the existing Accelerated Capital Allowance, ACA, list of eligible products and eligibility criteria but it is planned in the future to extend the product range beyond that covered by the ACA. The Register provides independent intelligence to energy end users regarding the products that are best in class from an energy efficiency perspective, as well as offering a financial incentive to organisations to procure them.
The ACA is tax incentive which allows businesses to write off the cost of eligible equipment from this register in one year rather than over eight years. This is available to businesses, including farms, paying corporate tax.
The ACA currently covers 10 different equipment categories and 52 associated technologies. As it stands there is no category or sub-technology type specific to farm equipment, however it is likely that there are generic technologies within the existing categories that could be of interest to farmers, e.g. lighting. New technology proposals can be submitted to the SEAI at any time.
If a supplier or manufacturer wishes to apply for a new technology type to be added to the Triple E Register, it is necessary to determine if the technology type could be included in an existing category heading, technology group or sub-technology.
Suppliers & manufacturers are requested to email SEAI at aca@seai.ie with a brief summary of the proposed technology prior to making an official proposal.
On receipt of a fully completed proposal, SEAI’s technical experts panel will complete a comprehensive evaluation in consultation with manufacturers, suppliers and trade associations to determine the technology’s energy efficient performance, energy saving potential and market availability.
Separately, SEAI is collaborating with Teagasc on a pilot energy efficiency scheme in the dairy farm sector during 2017, an innovative example of the potential for co-ordinated action across two pillars – the Built Environment and Agriculture – of the recently published National Mitigation Plan.