Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

A thriving community renewable energy sector is a key pillar of the Government's climate action and renewable energy strategy. The first two RESS auctions provided pathways and supports for communities to participate in renewable energy projects. Seven community projects were successful in the RESS 1 auction, of which three are now energised. These community projects have been enabled by the RESS scheme and have now entered into private arrangements for selling their renewable energy. Ten community projects were successful in the RESS 2 auction, of which eight signed implementation agreements to deliver under the RESS 2 terms and conditions.

While the RESS enabled these community projects, there is evidence of significant challenges community projects face with the auction-based nature of RESS, along with other barriers to project delivery. To alleviate these issues, I announced last month a set of tariffs for the new small-scale renewable electricity support scheme, SRESS, and have provided for support for future community projects to now be through the non-competitive SRESS process. Community projects that are 100% community-owned will be permitted to apply to SRESS, including projects that were in previous RESS auctions and that have not energised. SRESS terms and conditions are currently being developed by my officials. The scheme will open for applications this year.

In addition, a suite of measures is being developed to overcome other barriers to renewable energy projects, including new and innovative approaches to grid connections being considered by the CRU and ESB Networks.

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