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For Oral Answer on : 20/09/2022
Question Number(s): 114 Question Reference(s): 45774/22
Department: Environment, Climate and Communications
Asked by: David Stanton T.D.
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QUESTION
[Ref No.: 45774/22]
To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the supports available to encourage the installation of photovoltaic solar panels on houses, schools, business premises and community facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. – David Stanton.
For ORAL answer on Tuesday, 20th September, 2022.
(61 Received on 13th September, 2022.)
REPLY
A revision of the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive includes provisions around optimising the solar energy generation potential of new and existing buildings. This is the responsibility of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
There are currently a range of measures available to support the rollout of solar PV in Ireland for houses, schools, business premises, community facilities and others.
The Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) provides capital grants for both domestic and 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. These Solar PV grants are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and will become available to non domestic applicants by the end of September.
Suppliers are now obliged to offer a Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff to new and existing micro-and small-scale generators, so that they receive payment for excess renewable electricity that they export to the grid, reflective of the market value. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is due to consult on an implementation plan for the Clean Export Premium (CEP) tariff by the end of 2022. This guaranteed export tariff support for new non-domestic installations greater than 6.0kW up to 50kW in size, is fixed for 15 years. For 2023, the rate will be 13.5c/kWh.
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. This is expected to come into effect in 2023. A public consultation on proposed design elements of the SSG scheme is open until the 29th September.
Solar PV is also supported as one of a range of measures under the SEAI’s Communities Energy Grant Scheme as part of the Government’s National Retrofit Programme. This 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.
In addition, the Public Sector Schools Pathfinder Programme, co-funded with the Department of Education, provides capital supports to improve energy efficiency and decarbonise school buildings. Solar PV is one of the measures supported under this scheme.
