Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 February 2021
79. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the new micro-generation scheme will be introduced; the form it will take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6811/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraA Micro-Generation working group, chaired by my Department, is developing an enabling framework for micro-generation which tackles existing barriers and establishes suitable supports within relevant market segments. The proposed support mechanism is outlined in a public consultation on the Department’s website at www.gov.ie which is open for submissions until 18 February 2021.
Micro-generators will primarily serve their own home electricity consumption needs, but will be able to receive a payment for excess electricity exported back to the grid. The proposal is to offer a minimum Clean Export Guarantee tariff based on the average wholesale Day Ahead Market (DAM) price to all existing micro-generators. It is proposed that an additional Clean Export Premium tariff will be offered for 15 years to support deployment of new micro-generation installations under the scheme, subject to a maximum export volume of 30% of what they generate. The tariff amounts will be differentiated by sector based on their viability gaps (i.e. the difference between the installation and operating costs and the savings from self-consumption). The average DAM over the year is estimated to be between €0.04 and €0.06/kWh.
The Programme for Government commits to prioritising the development of micro-generation of electricity primarily for self-consumption, and a suitable payment for excess electricity generated on site and exported to the grid will be available to all micro-generators in 2021 in line with Articles 21 and 22 of the recast Renewable Energy Directive. 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.
