Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 November 2020
67. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to implement aspects of an EU directive (details supplied) that provides owners of microgeneration units the possibility to sell surplus energy back to the grid for a determined price; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34405/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government commits to prioritising the development of micro-generation, letting people sell excess power back to the grid by July 2021. The measures set out below will assist in delivering this commitment.The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published a Roadmap for the Clean Energy Package’s Electricity and Renewables Directives in March this year, which provides for a public consultation on the regulatory framework for prosumer development later this year. The document is available on the CRU website www.cru.ie.A Micro-Generation working group, chaired by my Department, is examining an enabling framework for micro- generation which tackles existing barriers and establishes suitable supports within relevant market segments. The proposed support mechanism will be outlined in a public consultation in the coming months. A suitable payment for excess electricity generated on site and exported to the grid will be available to all microgenerators by 2021 in line with the transposition of Articles 21 and 22 of the recast Renewable Energy Directive (2018/2001) into Irish law. As regards the other Articles of the Directive, I have already given effect to the relevant provisions of Articles 4 and 6, relating to support schemes for energy from renewable sources, through the European Union (Renewable Energy) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 365 of 2020). It is intended that all relevant provisions of the Directive will be transposed into Irish law prior to the transposition deadline of 30 June 2021.
