Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 253: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the terms of the grants towards home energy use improvement in pilot areas and the categories of persons who are eligible; if a review of the pilot has taken place; the results of that review; and the revisions in the scheme which have been recommended. [33168/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The pilot areas for the individual strands of the Home Energy Savings Pilot Scheme are Limerick County Council, Clare County Council, Dundalk Town Council, Thurles Town Council and Tipperary SERVE area (an area within North Tipperary which is the subject of an EU energy project coordinated by Tipperary Energy Agency and North Tipperary County Council). The pilot also includes a Cluster Strand, which facilitates groups of a minimum of 10 householders to come together in the interests of economies of scale.

Pre-2002 privately owned residential properties have been eligible to apply under the individual area strands. Landlords and owners of multiple properties have also been eligible to apply under the Cluster Strand. Energy Rating assessments have been carried out in 90% of the participating houses and incentivisation offers have been made as appropriate. The data from the assessments, responses and uptake of the participants are currently being analysed by Sustainable Energy Ireland.

The Pilot Scheme will inform decisions in relation to a wider Home Energy Savings Scheme subject to overall budgetary considerations. The results from the models tested in the pilot phase will contribute to ensuring maximum effectiveness, efficiency and value for money.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 254: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the value of grants for low energy use equipment operated by Sustainable Energy Ireland on behalf of his Department; if a review of the schemes has been undertaken; the results of that review; and the revisions in the scheme which have been recommended. [33169/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) operates a range of programmes in support of sustainable energy products and services aimed at securing greater energy efficiency and wider exploitation of renewables in the residential, business and industrial sectors. Among these programmes are:

Warmer Homes Scheme (energy efficiency upgrades for low income households)

Greener Homes Scheme (renewable heating systems for households)

Low Carbon House (enhance energy performance in new build)

Microgeneration (field trials of small scale electricity generating technologies)

ReHeat Deployment Programme (renewable heating systems for the commercial and public sectors)

Renewable Energy RD&D (research and development supports).

With specific respect to grants for low energy use equipment, SEI administers the Combined Heat & Power (CHP) Deployment programme. This programme was launched in August 2006 and provides two types of support:

A 40% support (discretionary) for studies assessing the feasibility of deploying new CHP plant

A 30% capital equipment support (rule based) towards the investment in new CHP plant. The programme supports either fossil fuel or renewable energy (biomass) based systems which adhere to the efficiency requirements set down in the subject EU Directive.

To date SEI has approved a total of 62 applications for capital equipment, including one biomass unit, in the amount of €4.474m of which €626k has already been paid. The scheme is reviewed annually with respect to targets set out for the programme. The scheme has been revised once to allow for grouped applications of feasibility studies to be submitted by single Energy Services Companies to inform assessments of CHP potential in target sectors.