Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2024
176. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of community-led projects successful under RESS 1 which have energised to-date; the number that remain in the process but are still due to energise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16511/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra177. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of community-led projects that remain in RESS 2; for a breakdown of the number of these which are wind projects and the number which are solar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16512/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra178. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide details of the community-led projects in RESS 1 that have to-date received the enabling grant and the amount of grant funding received by each project, in tabular form; the details of the community-led projects in RESS 2 that have to-date received the enabling grant and the amount of grant funding received by each project, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16513/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 176 to 178, inclusive, together.
Through the first two Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) auctions, my Department has provided pathways and supports for communities to participate in renewable energy projects through the application of a community projects category. The supports include a set of technical and financial supports for community projects through the RESS Community Enabling Framework.
Regarding financial supports, RESS includes grant funding of potentially up to €180,000, offered from SEAI to community renewable energy projects,. To date, two community projects (both under RESS 1) have received €40,000 each in grant funding.
Currently there are two community solar projects energised under RESS 1 which generate an estimated 8.6 GWh of renewable energy annually in addition to other community projects operating outside the scheme. 10 community projects (8 solar projects, 2 wind projects) were successful in the RESS 2 auction, with some of these proceeding through the scheme and others expected to develop through alternative routes to market.
There is evidence of significant challenges that Renewable Energy Community projects may face with the competitive, auction based nature of RESS, along with grid and other barriers to project delivery. Therefore, Community projects will now transition to the non-competitive Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS).
The export tariff phase of SRESS, to support small scale and community renewable projects, is due to be launched in the coming months and will be a major step forward in supporting the community energy sector. It will include similar community enabling technical and financial supports that are currently provided under RESS.
