Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is hard to know the numbers but everybody should be considering solar. I want everybody to do so.

With regard to microgeneration, I am engaging with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, on his plans to develop a feed-in tariff, separate from TAMS, that farmers will be able to use to generate more solar energy – for example, by having solar panels in fields. This would allow them to feed into the grid, be paid and make money on a purely commercial basis.

On anaerobic digestion, we have a lot of work to do to realise our potential. We have seen great progress. Ireland is now one of the leading countries in Europe in wind energy generation. There has been a major focus on that over the past decade. There is also a considerable focus now on solar. We will also focus significantly on anaerobic digestion. Our plan is that, by 2030, 10% of our total national gas consumed in houses and businesses will come from farms through anaerobic digestion. This will require a big step change and significant investment. It will also require a renewable heat obligation tariff to drive the investment.

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