Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 February 2018
540. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the plans for affordable measures and schemes for farm scale renewable energy generation projects (details supplied); his views on whether assistance should be given for farm scale renewable energy generation such as the absence of a feed in tariff to sell electricity to the grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7092/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is developing a new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) which is being designed to assist Ireland in meeting its renewable energy contribution to EU-wide targets out to 2030. The design of the new scheme has included an extensive independent economic appraisal. This appraisal compared the cost of supporting a range of commercial renewable technologies, including Anaerobic Digestion and rooftop solar PV, at various scales, to ensure that the new scheme delivers value for money for energy users whilst also delivering on the energy pillars of sustainability and security of supply. The assessment included analysis of the optimum financial support mechanisms for renewable technologies, in line with the 2014 EU State Aid Guidelines.
Micro generation was also appraised as part of the RESS economic assessment and the analysis identified a number of challenges that may need to be addressed before a support scheme for micro generation can be developed. The reality is that bringing microgen onto a system designed for large generators is complicated. It impacts how we pay for the network, how we manage regulation and how we technically manage the system. My Department will continue to work closely with the micro generation sector and the SEAI to better understand how to validate and further develop micro generation policies in a fair and cost effective manner.
Following on from the recent RESS public consultation and review, a final design proposal will be brought to Government for approval in the coming months, including the overall costs, the number of categories and the technologies to be supported. A formal application for State Aid clearance from the European Commission will then commence.
At this stage no final decisions have been made as regards which technologies will be supported under the new RESS.
