Written Answers Nos. 133-143
133. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the Liquefied Natural Gas Report previously commissioned by the previous Minister for Environment; Climate and Communications has been finalised; when it will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7034/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs outlined in the Programme for Government, this Government is committed to taking decisive action to radically reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and to achieve a 51% reduction in emissions from 2018 to 2030, and to achieving net-zero emissions no later than 2050.
In the Programme for Government we also set out our commitment to achieving 80% of Ireland’s electricity generation from renewable sources by 2030 and to take all necessary action to ensure and protect Ireland’s energy security.
It is through delivering on this commitment that we will deliver a secure and sustainable energy future.
The commitment to a secure energy future builds upon the Energy Security in Ireland to 2030 report approved by the previous Government and published in November 2023. Specifically in relation to Natural Gas this report concluded that Ireland does not have adequate resilience in case of a major disruption to our sub-sea gas imports pipelines and does not currently meet minimum EU standards in this area.
It is in this context only that a State-led Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve in the form of a Floating Storage and Regassification Unit (FSRU) was recommended in the Report.
A State-led strategic gas emergency reserve, operating on a non-commercial basis for use only in the event of an emergency, would provide resilience to the gas system and mitigate against the major consequences for our society and our economy that would arise from a significant gas supply disruption in Ireland.
In parallel my Department are developing the appropriate policy and legislative measures to ensure that a strategic reserve provides the resilience to our energy system in a manner that:
• does not inadvertently increase gas demand by increasing the supply available on the market and
• is compatible with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act
This work is at an advanced stage in my Department in consultation with Gas Network Ireland, the Attorney General's Office and other Departments. I have requested my officials to finalise their work as a matter of priority so that I am in a position to bring forward a recommendation to Government in the near future on the optimal approach to ensure and protect Ireland's energy security.
134. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason Ireland did not submit a new nationally determined contributions to the UN on 10 February 2025, as required under the Paris Agreement; when Ireland will be submitting these nationally determined contributions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7035/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs a Member State of the European Union, Ireland submits a joint Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) with its EU partners.
As per Article 4 of the Paris Agreement, Parties, including regional economic integration organizations (such as the EU) and their member States, may submit joint NDCs subject to certain conditions being met and the notification of this intention to the Secretariat to the UNFCCC. The European Union and its Member States have chosen to avail themselves of this option for the submission of their NDCs since 2015, with the submission of their first intended NDC under the Paris Agreement. A joint EU NDC was again submitted in 2020, with an update to this NDC submitted in 2023. The EU intends again to submit a joint NDC in 2025 in advance of COP30.
135. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to consider reinstating battery grants for solar panels and expanding the solar electricity grant given recent storms and in acknowledgement of the role that solar can play in securing individual energy supplies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7036/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) was approved by Government on 21 December 2021, to support Ireland’s ambitious targets for micro-generation installations, under the Climate Action Plan. The scheme provides supports to both domestic and non-domestic applicants, in the form of grants for Solar PV installations, up to a maximum of €1,800 in 2025 for household installations. As part of designing a new support scheme, SEAI undertook an assessment of continuing the previous battery grants under the MSS and found that with the cost of batteries, coupled with their low storage capabilities of only a few hours and their relatively short lifetime, that a stand-alone battery grant did not represent efficient use of limited Exchequer funds at that time. However, it is recognised that battery storage solutions have significantly dropped in cost in recent years, and as such my Department is currently reviewing the possibility of utilising microgeneration and battery storage solutions (including EV batteries) as an opportunity to allow homes and businesses to make greater energy cost savings, as well as to provide greater flexibility and resilience from the national grid. Solar PV systems and battery storage solutions (including EV batteries with Vehicle to home/grid capabilities) are increasingly being designed to act in response to dynamic conditions, such as fluctuating tariff prices or grid congestion scenarios. Such systems can also be configured to operate at times when a grid connection is temporarily unavailable; through the use of additional changeover switches and appropriate electrical wiring. Work is underway to assess the feasibility of supporting such smart energy solutions.
136. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to specify the agreed or provisionally agreed auction contracts under ORESS 1 and ORESS 2.1, respectively; the number of successful projects; and the total capacity of successful projects and the percentage share of total successful projects that are wholly or partly owned by ESB and its subsidiaries, in tabular form. [7063/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) supports delivery of our Climate Action Plan target of meeting 80% of electricity demand from renewable energy sources by 2030.
In 2023, my Department staged our first offshore wind auction under the RESS, known as ORESS 1. Of the six participants in the auction, four were successful and were awarded supports under the RESS. These four projects account for a total capacity of approximately 3.1 GW. None of the four successful projects involves ESB or its subsidiaries.
The two projects unsuccessful in the auction account for another 1.2 GW approximately. These two projects are pursuing an alternative, non-RESS supported route to market and if successful will contribute to our 2030 target of 5GW installed offshore renewable energy capacity.
My Department's next offshore wind auction, known as ORESS Tonn Nua (formerly ORESS 2.1), is expected to take place in the Summer of 2025. This auction will be for a single 900 MW site located off the coast of Waterford in the South Coast DMAP, approved by the Oireachtas in October 2024.
|
ORESS 1 Successful Projects |
Capacity MW |
% ESB ownership |
|
Codling Wind Park |
1,300 |
Nil |
|
Sceirde Rocks Windfarm |
450 |
Nil |
|
Dublin Array |
824 |
Nil |
|
North Irish Sea Array |
500 |
Nil |
|
TOTAL |
3,074 |
137. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to specify the agreed or provisionally agreed auction contracts under RESS 1, RESS 2, RESS 3 and RESS 4 respectively; the number of successful projects; the total capacity of successful projects; and the percentage share of total successful projects that are wholly or partly owned by ESB and its subsidiaries, in tabular form. [7064/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to the reply provided to Question Number 114 of 22 October 2024, which is summarised below. The position has not altered in the interim.
Details of projects successful in each of the RESS auctions are publicly available on the EirGrid RESS website, and RESS projects which have energised and are eligible for PSO support are listed on the annual PSO Statutory Instrument, the most recent of which can be found on the statute book website here: www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2024/si/377/made/en/pdf.
Given the Department's role in overseeing the RESS auctions and potential regular changes in the corporate structure of projects, it is not appropriate or feasible to provide a breakdown of ownership of RESS projects by an individual company. Information submitted at the time of the auction was at a point in time, and ownership (either in part or in its entirety) could have changed in the period since the auction. The ownership, partial ownership and potential ownership of individual projects is submitted to and taken into account by the CRU in the role of determining competition within individual RESS auctions.
The table sets out the aggregate information requested for the four RESS auctions to date:
|
successful |
unsuccessful |
successful MW |
unsuccessful MW |
successful GWh |
unsuccessful GWh |
|
|
RESS 1 |
82 |
26 |
1,276 |
283.4 |
2,236.7 |
317.24 |
|
RESS 2 |
80 |
50 |
1,948 |
999.8 |
2,747.9 |
1,024.5 |
|
RESS 3 |
23 |
8 |
646 |
247.7 |
934.48 |
289.09 |
|
RESS 4 |
27 |
16 |
1,334 |
513 |
2,071 |
513 |
138. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for the breakdown of the funding provided for community energy grants in 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7065/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Communities Energy Grant Scheme is part of the Government's National Retrofit Programme. The primary objective of the scheme is to support and maximise the number of home energy upgrades delivered. Non-domestic projects are also supported to encourage broader community engagement and mobilisation.
Other objectives include:
• Building capacity by working with project co-ordinators on large-scale and complex projects
• Supporting cross-sectoral, partnership approaches targeting public, private, commercial and community buildings
• Helping develop the retrofit supply chain
• Building relationships with communities and businesses
• Developing community project management capacity
For 2025, capital funding of €75 million has been allocated to the Communities Energy Grant Scheme.
The figures below set out the capital expenditure on the Communities Energy Grant Scheme in the period 2020-2024:
• 2024: €41.2m
• 2023: €27m
• 2022: €17.3m
• 2021: €21.8m
• 2020: €18.7m
The following changes to the Scheme Guidelines were introduced in 2024 and these will continue to be rolled out this year:
• Support for projects focused solely on residential upgrades
• Improved supports to address the particular challenge of retrofitting Multi-Unit Developments such as flat complexes and apartments, including scaffolding and communal areas
• A pilot focused on area-based home retrofit projects which will encourage Communities Energy Grant Project Coordinators, Local Authorities and local energy agencies to collaborate with an objective of leaving no home behind.
139. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment; Climate and Communications for the breakdown of the funding provided for domestic solar photovoltaic systems in 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7066/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) was approved by Government on 21 December 2021, to support Ireland’s ambitious targets for micro-generation installations, under the Climate Action Plan. The scheme provides supports to both domestic and non-domestic applicants, in the form of grants for Solar PV installations, up to a maximum of €1,800 in 2025 for household installations. As part of designing a new support scheme, SEAI undertook an assessment of continuing the previous battery grants under the MSS and found that with the cost of batteries, coupled with their low storage capabilities of only a few hours and their relatively short lifetime, that a stand-alone battery grant did not represent efficient use of limited Exchequer funds at that time. However, it is recognised that battery storage solutions have significantly dropped in cost in recent years, and as such my Department is currently reviewing the possibility of utilising microgeneration and battery storage solutions (including EV batteries) as an opportunity to allow homes and businesses to make greater energy cost savings, as well as to provide greater flexibility and resilience from the national grid. Solar PV systems and battery storage solutions (including EV batteries with Vehicle to home/grid capabilities) are increasingly being designed to act in response to dynamic conditions, such as fluctuating tariff prices or grid congestion scenarios. Such systems can also be configured to operate at times when a grid connection is temporarily unavailable; through the use of additional changeover switches and appropriate electrical wiring. Work is underway to assess the feasibility of supporting such smart energy solutions.
140. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for a breakdown of the funding provided for community solar photovoltaic systems in 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7067/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government committed to promoting the Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS) to simplify market access for community owned solar and wind projects.
The deployment of rooftop and ground-based photovoltaics ensures that a greater share of our electricity needs is met through solar power.
The Renewable Energy Support Scheme (RESS) Community Enabling Framework was launched in 2022. It provides a range of supports, including grant funding of potentially up to €180,000, offered from SEAI to community renewable energy projects, to help them participate in the RESS. To date, two community projects (both under RESS 1 in 2022), including one solar and one wind, have received €40,000 each in grant funding.
My Department is working closely with the SEAI and community groups to assess the barriers to community energy projects, to ensure a long term sustainable future for the community energy sector in Ireland. In that regard, community projects will now transition to the non-competitive Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS).
SRESS provides financial incentives to develop smaller scale solar and wind energy, and was designed with two support mechanisms to suit two distinct cohorts of applicants.
Under SRESS Phase 1, the Non-Domestic Microgen Grant is available for renewables self-consumers above 50 kW and up to 1 MW. Renewables self-consumers are electricity customers who produce renewable electricity for their own use. They may then sell or store any excess electricity that they produce, if electricity generation is not their primary business. A total of 2,425 grants applications have been received, including, for the Community and Sports Sector 167 grant applications amounting to funding of nearly €1.5 million and a total installation capacity of over 16.6 MW.
SRESS Phase 2 targets community, SME and farm export projects above 50kW to 6MW, offering a simpler route to market, with fixed tariffs for solar and wind. As with RESS, this is supported by the PSO. All export projects up to 1MW can also apply to SRESS, and need not be communities, SMEs or farmers. The scheme opened for applications on 27 January and is a major step forward in supporting the community energy sector.
141. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the containers returned via the deposit return scheme are being recycled in Ireland; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7069/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra142. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the facility in which the containers returned via the deposit return scheme are being recycled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7070/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra144. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there was a tender process for the collection of the containers returned via the deposit return scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7072/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take PQs 141, 142 and 144 together.
The collection, processing and recycling of containers returned via the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is an operational matter for the DRS operator, Re-turn. While I have no function in relation to the award of contracts, I can confirm a tender process for the collection and processing of DRS material was completed by Re-turn and contracts were awarded in 2023 to Full Circle Packaging and Limerick Polymers Production (LPP) respectively. All material is processed at LPP’s facility in Limerick, after which it is sent to licensed facilities in Ireland, the UK or Europe for recycling.
One of the significant benefits of DRS is the potential to establish Ireland's first bottle-to-bottle recycling plant on the island. When we have sufficient and consistent supply of high-quality material available, it may become commercially viable to operate a recycling facility in Ireland.
143. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the value of unclaimed deposits from the first year of the deposit return scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7071/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs with all Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), deposits which are not redeemed are retained by the operator and are reinvested exclusively for the development of the scheme. As the return rate improves, the level of unredeemed deposits will reduce considerably however the funds available are invested in a range of measures to promote and improve collection rates including:
• Improving reverse vending machine (RVM) coverage and optimising convenience for consumers
• Enhancing accessibility to maximise the Scheme for all users
• Supporting larger, bulk-fed machines enabling quicker, higher volume returns
• Communications and awareness, supporting the consumer’s understanding of DRS and the benefits of a separate collection system for these materials.
Full year data for 2024 is currently being compiled by Re-turn, the scheme operator, and I expect to receive this data early in Q2 2025.
