Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 December 2021
78. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide a progress update on the implementation of a new microgeneration scheme to enable selling of electricity back to the grid by domestic, public and private producers including farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61342/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe pending introduction of a Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff represents the first phase of a comprehensive enabling framework for micro-and small-scale generators in Ireland. This will allow all renewables self-consumers to receive remuneration from their electricity supplier for all excess renewable electricity exported to the grid, reflective of the market value of that electricity.
Following a public consultation, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published a decision on an interim enabling framework for the CEG on 1 December last. This decision, inter alia, outlines eligibility criteria and remuneration methodology. The CRU has decided that suppliers will set their individual CEG tariffs on a competitive market basis. The CRU decision also includes a number of provisions to ensure that the implementation of the CEG aligns with the National Smart Metering Programme. The CEG will become available upon the transposition of Article 21 of RED II into Irish law, which is expected to be complete before the end of the year, and will be available to both new and existing micro- and small-scale generators who fulfil the eligibility criteria as determined by the CRU.
My Department is also developing the final scheme design for the Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS). It is expected that a proposal on the supports to be offered to citizens, farms, businesses and other entities for new installations under the Scheme will be submitted to Government shortly. Following Government approval, it is expected that the scheme design will be published in early 2022 and supports will be introduced on a phased basis over the course of the year.
