Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The new support scheme should be far broader than schemes up to now. Up to now the focus has been on onshore wind. There is an opportunity now to expand and look at both domestic and large scale solar, hydro, biomass, offshore wind energy and micro-generation. Micro-generation has to be part of that mix. I cannot give the Deputy a commitment on any specific project. There are a number of issues that would need to be looked at in that context, one of which is whether the grid at the location can take it. One of the issues we will have with some of these projects is the capacity of the grid. It is an issue that is coming up more frequently now in solar energy. At the moment there are enough solar applications for connection to the grid that if we turned off every power generating source on the island of Ireland, we would have enough solar capacity on a sunny winter's day to run the country.

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