Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The renewable electricity feed-in tariff, REFIT, schemes are the principal means of supporting renewable electricity generators for renewable energy exported to the grid. These schemes support electricity generated from a range of renewable sources including small scale hydro, biomass and wind. Based around power purchase agreements between generators and electricity suppliers, REFIT schemes assure a minimum price for each unit of electricity exported to the grid over a 15-year period. Small scale renewable generation is eligible to apply for support under the REFIT schemes.

The SEAI, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, provides a range of supports to businesses and home owners in the deployment of renewable energy technologies including training and advice. Businesses and home owners wishing to develop renewable energy projects can also avail of grant support for investment in renewable energy installations under the better energy communities and better energy homes schemes respectively.

In the context of the forthcoming definitive energy policy paper, the Department is considering matters relating to Ireland's fuel mix including the role of microgeneration. Analysis of the potential of microgeneration technologies such as small scale wind, solar, including photovoltaic, and small scale hydro, has been carried out by the SEAI. Its findings, along with responses to the recent consultation on the Green Paper on Energy Policy in Ireland, will inform future policy on the provision of any market support for microgeneration. The views will be taken into consideration in preparation of the definitive White Paper on energy which will be finalised in September.

Given the emerging policy context and the requirements of the EU target market for electricity, my Department is also in the process of developing a new support scheme for electricity to be available from 2016 onwards. A key component of this will be consideration of the available technologies including solar technologies, their cost effectiveness and the level of support required. The scheme will be subject to state-aid clearance and the initial public consultation on the new scheme will commence shortly.

I thank the Minister for his reply. There was a scheme whereby people could micro-generate electricity and connect to the grid. I think the producers were paid 16 cent per kilowatt/hour, but that scheme was scrapped. That 16 cent payment normally came off the overall electricity bill, so there were reduced bills for households. Those customers were doing the right thing in accordance with Government policy for promoting renewable energy.

I have received many calls, as I am sure other TDs have, from people who asked whether the scheme would be replaced with a better one. We should accelerate the promotion of micro-generation for small and large industries, villages and householders. We should always reward people for doing the right thing.

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