Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2022
153. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when feedback tariffs will be introduced for solar, micro-wind and micro-hydro energy projects; the reason for the delay in the introduction of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14798/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe final design of the Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) was approved by Government in December 2021 and will be published shortly.On the 15 February this year I signed the Regulations that transpose Articles 21 and 22 of the recast Renewable Energy Directive which brings these Articles into force. These Regulations allow the Clean Export Guarantee tariff to become available for new and existing micro-and small-scale generators so that they will receive payment from their electricity supplier for all excess renewable electricity they export to the grid, reflective of the market value. 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 2021.This decision outlines the interim arrangements for the implementation of the CEG, including eligibility criteria and remuneration methodology. The CRU has decided that suppliers will set their individual CEG tariffs on a competitive market basis. I believe some suppliers have already published their tariffs. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is not setting a date or deadline for the timing of the first payment. However, initial payments or credits from suppliers are expected within a reasonable timeframe after June 2022. The CRU has asked suppliers to communicate their decision on when initial Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) payments will be made – at the earliest opportunity. Furthermore, the Minister for Finance introduced a tax disregard of €200 in Budget 2021 in respect of personal income received by households who sell residual renewable electricity, which they generate, back to the grid.
