Written Answers Nos. 190-200
190. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount of funding allocated to the Environmental Protection Agency by his Department in 2021, 2022, and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5359/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe funding allocated by my Department for the Environmental Protection Agency in the Revised Estimates for the period 2021 to 2023 is set out in the table below:
|
Year |
Amount €m |
|
2021 |
50.177 |
|
2022 |
51.619 |
|
2023 |
55.861 |
193. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount of funding allocated to grants for sustainable community projects in 2021, 2022, and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5369/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra196. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the capital, current and total 2023 budget allocation for community energy grants, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5390/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 196 together.
The Communities Energy Grant is part of the Government's National Retrofit Programme aimed at upgrading building stock and facilities to high standards of energy efficiency and renewable energy usage, thereby reducing fossil fuel usage, energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
The Scheme supports cross-sectoral and community-oriented partnership approaches that deliver energy savings to a range of building types including public, commercial and community buildings with a particular focus on using the projects to deliver home retrofits.
In 2021, 39 Community Energy Projects were funded with SEAI Grant Support of €26.5 million resulting in a total investment of over €86m. Since the launch of the 2022 Call for Projects last March, there has been very strong demand for the Scheme. At the end of December there were 24 community energy projects approved for capital support of €63 million towards a total investment of over €168 million.
This year, a record €68 million capital funding has been allocated to the Scheme with €0.3 million current funding also provided.
194. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the capital, current and total 2023 budget allocation for the energy-contacting support scheme, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5372/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Energy Contracting Support Scheme launched mid 2022 and provides supports and expertise across the business and public sectors to deliver energy efficiency through Energy Performance Contracts (EPCs), Local Energy Supply Contracts (LESCs) and Energy Performance Guarantees (EPGs).
An amount of €300k is allocated to the Energy Contracting Support Scheme for 2023.
|
2023 Budget Allocation |
Amount |
|
Current |
Nil |
|
Capital |
€300k |
Information specifically relating to ECSS is available from the SEAI.
195. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount of funding allocated to the energy-efficiency obligation scheme in 2021, 2022, and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5379/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme (EEOS) places legal requirements on larger energy companies to help energy users save energy. The EEOS has been in place since 2014 and contributes significantly to the delivery of Ireland’s energy saving target under the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED). A new, redesigned EEOS commenced on 1st January 2023. The scheme was redesigned in response to amendments to the EED and the Government’s climate priorities.
The Department allocates funding to SEAI to administer the EEOS on behalf of the Minister. As part of this role SEAI reviews, assesses and certifies the energy credits awarded to the obligated parties towards their targets and accounts for these to the Department and the EU under the National Energy and Climate Plan reporting requirements. A bespoke online reporting and management system for this process has been developed. During 2021 and 2022 SEAI also supported DECC with the development of the new scheme. SEAI has also worked with and supported obligated parties with the market transition to the new EEOS scheme throughout this period and to date in 2023.
The table below sets out the funding drawdown by SEAI for the administration of the EEOS during 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023.
|
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
|
Energy Efficiency Obligation (Current) |
€0.745m |
€0.763m |
€0.096m |
197. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the capital, current and total 2023 budget allocation for the support scheme for renewable heat, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5391/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH) has been developed to financially support and stimulate the adoption of renewable heating systems by commercial, industrial, agricultural, district heating and other non-domestic heat users.
The SSRH, which is operated by the SEAI, provides an operational support for biomass boilers and anaerobic digestion heating systems. Eligible renewable energy technologies are supported through a multi-annual payment, for a period of up to 15 years, on the basis of prescribed tariffs. The National Development Plan sets out an allocation of €300 million for the roll-out of the scheme for the period up to 2027. The budget allocation for 2023 is €3,940,000. The scheme is subject to EU State Aid regulations.
|
Capital |
€3,500,000 |
|
Current (Grant) |
€440,000 |
|
Total |
€3,940,000 |
198. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the capital, current and total 2023 budget allocation for the non-domestic microgen scheme, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5392/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Non Domestic Microgen scheme, as part of the wider Microgeneration Support Scheme; commenced on 22nd September 2022. The scheme is operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and provides financial assistance to help businesses and other sectors to install solar PV panels to generate electricity on site. This technology reduces commercial electricity costs and increases security of supply, while enhancing a positive sustainability image. Grants are available for systems up to a maximum of €2,400 for installations of up to 6kWp.
The table below shows the estimated budget profile for the scheme for 2023 and is based on figures provided by the SEAI on the expected level of grant support payments during the year. The scheme is ultimately demand led and actual grant payment figures will be dependent on the performance and operations of the scheme.
|
2023 |
Current |
Capital |
Total |
|
Non Domestic Microgen |
200,000 |
2,000,000 |
2,200,000 |
199. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if an increase in electric vehicles will put a substantial amount of pressure on the national grid in the long-term (details supplied); the possible outcomes if the grid becomes overwhelmed in coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5303/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Strategy, published in January 2023, explicitly acknowledges a current “lack of available grid capacity” as among a number of potential risks. However, every effort is being made to mitigate these risks and to prepare for any problems that may arise. The National EV Charging Network Plan, stakeholder working groups, funding, and investment in grid capacity are all being explored as ways of ensuring that the strategy’s aims are delivered as smoothly as possible. The transmission system operator, EirGrid, and the distribution system operator, ESB Networks, are both involved in this work. EirGrid is responsible for planning the future grid and forecasting future electricity needs. Its planning work already takes into account the future roll out of electric vehicles as set out in the Climate Action Plan.
200. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of approved connection agreements entered into by EirGrid for the purposes of data centre connection on an annual basis from 2010 to 2022; the number and maximum import capacity each of those which have been granted connection agreements but have yet to be connected; the location of those connection points; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5313/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra201. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware of any register of data centres, including their location, energy and water requirements, held by any public entity; and if not, his views on whether a register should be available to assist with capacity planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5314/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 200 and 201 together.
I am advised that during the period 2010-2022 EirGrid, the body responsible for developing and managing the national electricity grid, has entered into 16 connection agreements for the purposes of data centre connections. The table below shows the annual breakdown. There are six contracted projects with a total Maximum Import Capacity of circa 460 MVA that have yet to be connected to the Transmission System, with almost all of this capacity in the Dublin region.
EirGrid, in order to comply with their statutory and contractual provisions that prohibit them from sharing certain information with third parties, are not in a position to disclose individual information in relation to each of the Connection Agreements.
|
Year |
Number per year |
|
2010 |
0 |
|
2011 |
0 |
|
2012 |
1 |
|
2013 |
0 |
|
2014 |
0 |
|
2015 |
0 |
|
2016 |
4 |
|
2017 |
1 |
|
2018 |
1 |
|
2019 |
1 |
|
2020 |
2 |
|
2021 |
6 |
|
2022 |
0 |
There is currently no register held by a public body that includes the energy and water requirements of data centres. EirGrid regularly reviews the forecasted electricity demand for the next ten years through its Generation Capacity Statement, including providing forecasts on the expected demand from Large Energy Users including Data Centres. Similarly, the CRU regularly reviews electricity and gas connection policies to ensure they align with national policy, and in line with the recently-published Climate Action Plan 2023 the CRU has set out that a review will be carried out of the gas and electricity connection policies for new Large Energy Users.
Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. Uisce Éireann has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted directly via email at oireachtasmembers@water.ie.
