Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 52, 57 and 92 together.

I strongly support a route to market for citizens and communities to generate their own renewable energy and to receive a fair price for doing so. Indeed, Ireland has been involved in developing the EU's Clean Energy Package which entitles renewable self-consumers to receive remuneration for excess electricity exported to the grid.

Significant work has already been carried out in this area by my Department and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, working with industry stakeholders, including the Micro Renewable Energy Federation.  However, more work needs to be done before we can introduce a legal framework to fully implement this approach.

One challenge is to design a remuneration regime for microgeneration as per the new directive, which reflects the market value of that electricity fed into the grid and also to work out how it would impact on network charges and on the public service obligation, paid by other users for exported electricity taking the benefits of self-consumption into account.

In July 2018, a new pilot scheme to support microgeneration was introduced, initially targeting domestic self-consumption through a grant scheme for solar PV installation and battery storage. Over 3,000 applicants have expressed an interest to date and approximately 200 rebate claims are in process for payment by the SEAI, which is administering the scheme on behalf of the Department.

A review next year of the pilot scheme will inform potential future phases of support for microgeneration.

The Department currently also offers supports to communities and small and medium enterprises, SMEs, to install solar PV and other energy efficiency measures through the SEAI-led sustainable energy communities and Better Energy communities schemes.

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