Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
75. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the grant assistance available for businesses to install solar panels at present; if he intends on increasing these grants to expedite the roll-out of this energy source; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42749/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraBusinesses that use a large amount of electricity will benefit most when they consume electricity on site from their own micro-generation. Residual electricity is eligible for a market-based export tariff. The financial business case for micro-generation for these high electricity users is already strong, with short payback periods based on self-consumption and export payments alone. The Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) provides capital grants for non-domestic applicants 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 in September. Suppliers are offering 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 they export to the grid, reflective of the market value. More information is available at: Clean Export Tariff - Commission for Regulation of Utilities (cru.ie) In Q3 of this year 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. The Climate Action Plan commits to the development of a support scheme for small-scale generators (SSG) above 50kW to support the deployment of rooftop and ground-mounted solar PV that is expected to come into effect in 2023. A public consultation on proposed design elements of the SSG scheme is currently running until the 29th September 2022: www.gov.ie/en/consultation/353f2-consultation-on-a-small-scale-generation-support-scheme-ssg-in-ireland/
