Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 June 2022
120. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views regarding the setting-up of a standalone direct grant scheme for schools to install solar photovoltaic to benefit from the imminent planning exemptions for installation of roof-top solar photovoltaic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28448/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage (DHLGH) is currently in the process of making revisions to the Planning Regulations to support greater installation of solar panels, which includes the undertaking of a Strategic Environmental Assessment of the revisions to the exemptions for solar installations. This is due to go to public consultation shortly with a view to approval by the Oireachtas later this year. To facilitate switching to renewable energy sources I bought forward the final design of the Micro-Generation Support Scheme (MSS) which was approved by Government in December 2021. The Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) is targeting support for 380MW of installed micro-generation capacity, to contribute to the target of up to 2.5GW of solar renewables under the Climate Action Plan. Micro-generation has an important role to play as it creates opportunities for domestic, school, farming and small commercial customers to take the first steps towards investment in renewable technologies, by generating and consuming their own electricity, which can play a role in shaping electricity demand and decarbonising homes and businesses. The MSS will provide capital grants for non-domestic applicants, such as schools, for solar PV installations up to 6.0kW primarily for self-consumption, with grant levels up to a maximum of €2,400 available. This will be administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and will become available to the non-domestic sector for installations up to 6.0kW in July this year. In addition, on 15 February this year I signed the Regulations that create an obligation on suppliers to offer the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff to new and existing micro-and small-scale generators so that they will receive payment for excess renewable electricity that they may export to the grid, reflective of the market value. In Quarter 3 of this year when the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) will consult on an implementation plan for the Clean Export Premium (CEP) tariff, a guaranteed export tariff support for new installations which is fixed for 15 years for non-domestic applicants for installations greater than 6.0kW up to 50kW in size.
