Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
2107. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated cost per annum if a grant of €2,500 was introduced for solar PV based on the uptake of the solar thermal grant under the better energy homes; and the estimated cost of introducing a scheme to provide the full cost of solar PV to 2,000 households. [34962/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2109. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated cost of increasing the grant for solar heating by three times the current level under the better energy homeowners grant. [34964/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2107 and 2109 together.
It is important to recognise that there is not a simple cost of a solar photovoltaic system. The system is specifically designed for the home and its occupants. The contractor will take into account various factors from the direction the home faces to the pitch of the roof, to the actual amount of electricity consumed and the time for day or night that it is required. There is not a one-size-fits-all system, estimates of costs are necessarily tentative and subject to a number of variables. For the purposes of calculation and taking the level of support identified by the Deputy, along with the level of uptake of grants for solar thermal systems in 2017, the budget required would be in the order of €4m. The estimated cost of grant aiding the full cost of solar PV to 2,000 households would be in the order of €6m.
I do not currently plan to increase the grant for solar thermal for heating hot water. The focus is currently on encouraging homeowners to upgrade their homes on a “fabric first” basis. It was for this reason that grants for wall insulation were increased significantly in 2018, with up to €6,000 now available for external wall insulation. However based on the number of grants given for solar thermal in 2017, the increased cost would have been circa €4.0 million.
