Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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23. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is considering increasing grant support for PV solar energy production, offshore wind energy production and biomass energy production to meet our European Union 2020 energy targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21627/16]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The Programme for Government commits to facilitating the development of solar and bio-energy projects in Ireland, consistent with the analysis  and commitment in the White Paper on Energy Policy to introduce a new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) and a Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) designed to encourage the development of Ireland’s abundant, diverse and indigenous renewable energy resources.  In July 2015, the Department launched the first public consultation regarding the introduction of a proposed Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS). In-depth economic analysis is now underway to inform the actual cost of a new scheme and, while no decision has been taken on the precise renewable technologies to be supported, the cost and technical viability of solar photovoltaic (PV), bio-energy and offshore wind are being examined as part of the assessment process.

Once the detailed economic analysis is complete, there will be an additional public consultation phase on the design of the new scheme. The details of this will be advertised on the Department’s website www.dcenr.gov.ie.

The introduction of any new scheme - including the overall costs and technologies to be supported - will be subject to Government approval and State aid clearance from the European Commission.

While the primary purpose of the new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme is focused on the 2030 time horizon, any renewable electricity project that is supported under the new scheme and is built and connected before 2020 can will be counted towards Ireland’s 2020 renewable energy target.

At the same time, my Department is working on the introduction of a new Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) to support the deployment of renewable energy for commercial and industrial users of heat in the non-Emissions Trading Sector (ETS). Analysis is underway to inform the actual cost of the RHI and, while no decision has been taken on the precise renewable technologies to be supported, biomass combustion is one of the technologies being examined as part of the assessment process. The primary aim of the RHI is to build on the progress already made in the renewable heat sector and help to reach Ireland's 12% renewable heat target by 2020. 

As with the new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS), before a Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is introduced, the overall costs and technologies to be supported will be subject to Government approval and State aid clearance from the European Commission.