Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 475: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will confirm the status of 19 cent support price mechanism that was introduced by ESB networks in 2009; the results of the study undertaken by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland of the 42 microgeneration units that tested as a sample to show the performance of a range of different microgeneration technologies; if he and the SEAI have completed the cost benefit analysis already underway for a new microgeneration feed in tariff scheme; if and when he intends to introduce such a support measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20479/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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In 2009, ESB, on a commercial basis, introduced a microgeneration support scheme for domestic customers meeting certain conditions. This support scheme was made up of two payments – a 9 cent payment per kilowatt exported from ESB Customer Supply (now Electric Ireland) and a 10 cent payment per kilowatt exported from ESB Networks. This amounted to a total of 19 cent that a domestic customer could potentially obtain per kilowatt exported to the grid.

Electric Ireland has decided to extend their 9 cent per kilowatt exported for domestic consumers to end 2012. The terms and conditions of the Electric Ireland scheme are available on the Electric Ireland website. ESB Networks, since February 2012 no longer offer 10c per kilowatt exported. This was a commercial decision taken by ESB Networks.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland's (SEAI) small- and micro-scale generation pilot field trial was designed to evaluate the operational performance of a range of renewable generation technologies including wind, solar photovoltaic and hydro up to a nominal capacity limit of 50 kW. The performance of the pilot generators is being monitored by SEAI over an 18 month period. SEAI have indicated that a final report on the 18 month pilot will be forwarded to my Department in the near future.

SEAI's initial analysis on feed-in-tariff options for microgeneration, in the Irish context, is being updated in light of developments and in particular the speed at which technology costs such as for photovoltaic have fallen globally in the last 18 months.

The Programme for Government states that a feed-in tariff will be provided for micro-generators wishing to produce electricity for their own homes, farms and businesses and that they will be facilitated to sell surplus electricity to the grid while the tariff should not be significantly above the single energy market price for electricity. Take up on the ESB scheme was quite low and that scheme offered a price that was over twice the wholesale price of electricity. My Department and the SEAI are finalising analysis on the most cost effective options which could be considered for supporting the micro-generation sector, having regard to the costs and benefits for all energy consumers.