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For Written Answer on : 19/10/2021
Question Number(s): 292 Question Reference(s): 51287/21
Department: Environment, Climate and Communications
Asked by: David Stanton T.D.
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QUESTION


[Ref No.: 51287/21]

*  To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason only homeowners including landlords, whose homes were built before 2011 can apply for the solar electricity grant in order to help with the installation of solar PV panels; his plans to allow owners of houses built since 2011 to apply for this grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. – David Stanton.


*    For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 19th October, 2021.

(1246  Received on 9th September, 2021.)

REPLY


The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the grant scheme to help homeowners to install solar PV panels on their home. To date, some 7,135 applications have been supported, with 1,926 Building Energy Ratings of B2 or above achieved. 

The scheme is only open to homes built and occupied before 2011 because those houses must be in compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations, which relates to the energy performance of buildings requirements. There are options to meet this requirement under the standard by including heat pumps and/or solar PV. However, grants are not targeted at meeting compliance requirements, but at increasing the energy efficiency of older dwellings that may not have been constructed to the same standards as newer builds. 

Targeting the grant scheme at homes built before the renewable energy requirement for new homes was introduced ensures that the grants available through the SEAI maximise emission reductions and deliver energy savings for the widest range of homeowners possible. There are currently no changes to this requirement for access to the scheme envisaged.

The Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff represents the first phase of a comprehensive enabling framework for micro-and small-scale generators in Ireland allowing them to receive remuneration from their electricity supplier for all excess renewable electricity exported to the grid which reflects the market value of that electricity, regardless of the build year of a property.

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published a consultation on a draft enabling framework on 1 October which outlines the details for the introduction of the CEG payment including eligibility criteria and timescales for introduction, with a decision expected to be published in November and a compensation regime expected to follow shortly afterwards.