Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 4 October 2022

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action

Energy Prices: Discussion

Mr. Joe Duignan:

That is correct. I can address all three questions. On installations of greater than 50 kW, we launched the pilot scheme, which was for less than 50 kW. Lessons have been learned from that and there has been engagement and so on and so forth. We built on that in the small-scale generation scheme, which we launched last Friday and which allows for generation of up to 200 kW. It is the next level up. People can still apply for greater capacities under what is called the enduring connection policy. There is still that route but we looked at how to streamline the process to make it as simple and fast as possible. It still has to be technically acceptable but we sought to minimise impact and allow it to be done as quickly as possible. The mini-generation scheme I was talking about was a great success. It was oversubscribed and full within three or four months. We doubled it and added more capacity. We are seeing that. We still have headroom. It is still being called a pilot scheme but we are working with the regulator to treat it as business as usual and to increase the scheme. We do not intend to stop it but to keep going forward with it although it was launched as a pilot. The small-scale generation scheme for generation of up to 200 kW was just launched on Friday and we have already had feedback from stakeholders we did not engage with. As an example, Teagasc has come back to tell us that it is a good scheme for poultry or pig farmers as they can make use of their rooftop space. That will open it up to the next group, the group the Chairman was talking about. I hope that addresses his question.

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