Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 April 2022
138. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the details of the RESS 1 projects which have reached commercial operation to-date; the number of projects which are community-led projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18821/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is one of the flagship Government policies to help deliver on the ambition in the Climate Action Plan 2021 of up to 80% renewable electricity by 2030. The RESS supports communities in a variety of ways including through a separate category for community projects and a mandatory community benefit fund for every project supported in the scheme. To date, two projects have reached commercial operation as part of the first RESS competition (RESS 1). These projects are both windfarms and amount to almost 19 MW of new renewable electricity generation. I am expecting further RESS 1 projects to reach commercial operation in the coming weeks including the first solar farms in Ireland.
All RESS 1 projects are required to reach commercial operation by the end of 2023 at the very latest and are incentivised under the scheme to deliver early. EirGrid and ESB Networks project that the volume of new renewable generators connecting to the grid this year will far surpass previous annual connection rates and it is critical that this pace of delivery continues.
Under RESS 1, seven community projects, comprising five solar and two wind projects, are progressing through a number of milestones for delivery under the RESS scheme. These projects are anticipated to reach commercial operation before the end of 2023. The auction category for community projects has been retained in RESS 2. This category has been developed specifically to allow communities and citizens to participate in and benefit from RESS, empowering communities to generate their own electricity will help us to spread the message of the green transition.
The projects under development with support from the RESS, both developer and community led, will contribute significantly towards the renewable energy targets and trajectories set out in the National Energy and Climate Plan and to the renewable electricity ambitions set out in the Climate Action Plan. Further rounds of regular RESS auctions are critical to accelerating the pace and delivery of renewable energy sources and the urgent need for diversification away from fossil fuels.
