Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021
138. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if grants are available for persons, farmers or community groups that want to establish a solar farm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52358/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra139. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if persons, farmers or community groups that establish a solar farm are permitted to sell renewable energy to the grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52359/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra147. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps his Department is taking to promote the use of solar panels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52561/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra152. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the actions he is taking to promote the use of solar photo voltaic, PV, technology on Irish farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52755/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra167. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to introduce a feed-in tariff for homes that produce their own energy. [53355/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 138, 139, 147, 152 and 167 together.
In respect of grid-scale solar PV installations, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is responsible for licensing generators who wish to sell electricity in the wholesale electricity market. The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) provides support to grid-scale renewable generators, including solar PV installations, through a guaranteed fixed price, determined through a competitive auction, provided for a period of up to 16.5 years. Under the RESS, an enabling framework of supports is available for community groups that are developing renewable energy projects for the dedicated community category. These supports include financial grants, information guides, trusted intermediaries and expert advice for community projects to alleviate the significant challenges they may face in developing grid-scale renewable electricity projects.
Further to a public consultation held earlier this year, my Department is also developing a final scheme design for the Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) that incorporates the feedback from the consultation and subsequent additional analysis. It is expected that a proposal on the supports to be offered to citizens, groups, farms, schools and businesses under the MSS, which may include grants or premium tariff payments for new installations, will be submitted to Government later this year.
An upcoming Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff represents the first phase of a comprehensive enabling framework for micro- and small-scale generators in Ireland, allowing them to receive remuneration from their electricity supplier for all excess renewable electricity exported to the grid which reflects the market value of that electricity. The CRU published a consultation on a draft enabling framework on 1 October which outlines the details for the introduction of the CEG payment including eligibility criteria and timescales for introduction. A decision is expected to be published this month with a compensation regime to follow shortly afterwards.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers a range of supports to assist in the installation of solar PV panels. Supports for domestic solar PV are currently available under the standalone solar PV capital grant scheme and as one of a range of measures supported under the National Home Retrofit Scheme for complete home energy upgrades.
Solar PV is also funded under the Communities Energy Grant Scheme, which makes grant funding available to improve the energy efficiency of the building stock, and is open to domestic and non-domestic applications.
Other financial supports are available for solar energy micro-generation projects. These include tax based incentives for the development of renewable technologies such as the Accelerated Capital Allowances Scheme and the Employment and Investment Incentive as well as improvements for farm enterprises supported by the Department for Agriculture, Food and Marine, under the Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme as part of the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS).
