Written answers

Tuesday, 24 May 2016

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Alternative Energy Projects

Photo of Tom NevilleTom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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564. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the grants available for solar farms instead of windmills and the location of the closest grid connection to Broadford, County Limerick. [11271/16]

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The Programme for Government contains a commitment to facilitate the development of Solar photovoltaic (PV) energy projects in Ireland. This builds on the December 2015 Energy White Paper commitment to examine the potential for supporting Solar PV farms, and small-scale Solar roof- mounted installations.

It is widely recognised that Solar PV technology has become more cost competitive for electricity generation, not only compared with other renewables but also compared with conventional forms of generation.  The integration of utility-scale Solar PV farms on the grid and the deployment of roof-mounted Solar installations have the potential to contribute to meeting Ireland's renewable energy objectives and have the potential to enable greater citizen participation in Ireland's future energy transition. The introduction of a support tariff for Solar PV is currently under examination in the context of a new support scheme for renewable electricity generation, and the provision and design of any subsidy will be the subject of detailed economic appraisal.

Before a final decision is taken on introducing a new support scheme - which may include support for Solar PV - my Department will run a public consultation, which will give all interested parties an opportunity to participate in the development of the scheme. Details of the next public consultation will be advertised on the Department's website . Before any such scheme could be introduced, it would have to secure Government approval and State aid clearance from the European Commission.

Information on available grid connection capacity near Broadford, Co. Limerick is a matter for the Transmission and Distribution system operators, EirGrid and ESB Networks. I have forwarded a copy of the Deputy's question and my reply to the Transmission and Distribution system operators and asked that they contact  the Deputy in relation to the matter. 

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