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 energy exported to the grid. Based on 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. Projects seeking support under REFIT must apply to my Department by 4 p.m. on 31 December 2015.

REFIT forms a key part of the public service obligation, PSO. The PSO levy is charged to all electricity customers in Ireland to support national policy objectives related to renewable energy, indigenous fuels, peat, and security of energy supply. The PSO levy is determined each year by the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER.

Ireland’s REFIT schemes have proved effective in attracting investment into the renewable energy sector. In addition, the REFIT schemes have been found to be a very cost-effective tool to support renewables development, as indicated by a report published by the Council of European Energy Regulators earlier this year. Furthermore, renewable electricity generation in Ireland in 2014 is estimated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, to have avoided €250 million worth of fossil fuels imports.

My Department has been working with the SEAI, EirGrid and the CER to assess the costs and value of choosing the path towards 40% renewable electricity generation in 2020.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

Cost for overall renewable generation since 2010-11

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