Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 521: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the reason grants are not currently being provided for PV types of solar panels, whereas it is possible to obtain grants for the thermal collector types; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9741/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is committed to developing domestic scale renewable electricity and heat technologies. The Greener Homes Scheme was launched in March 2006 and it provides support to homeowners to invest in a range of renewable energy heating technologies including solar technology, wood biomass boilers and stoves, and heat pumps.

We are working with all relevant agencies and the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) to ensure that the appropriate administrative, technical and safety standards and practices are in place to underpin programmes for the widespread deployment of micro generation technologies. I am confident that appropriate solutions suited to the context of the Irish electricity grid and for non-grid connected technologies will be developed with a view to progressing this emerging sector.

Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has undertaken work on Metering Options for Small Scale Renewable and CHP Electricity Generation. The study identified a number of areas which require further analysis including the ability of such processes to secure adequate payment for their exports, a review of connection standards and processes for smaller generators, and the implications of the Single Electricity Market for small-scale electricity generation.

These technical and administrative issues are currently being addressed, and my Department is working with the relevant agencies, including SEI, CER, ESB Networks and the Electro-Technical Council of Ireland in this regard.

As part of the ongoing work to progress this area, the CER issued a consultation paper on micro generation with a view to establishing appropriate administrative and technical mechanisms. This paper discusses issues such as the technical standards to apply to such generators, the installation process for micro generators, and the metering and commercial arrangements for such generators.

The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has recently introduced amendments to the exempted development provisions of the Planning and Development Regulations, 2001. These amendments will permit the installation of solar panels, wind turbines and other micro-renewables, without planning permission, in certain circumstances.