Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
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550. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the current system and prices of microgeneration can be improved to encourage more persons to invest in renewables and the existing producers to recoup some of their investment. [29422/16]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The Renewable Electricity Feed-in-Tariff (REFIT) schemes are the principal means of supporting renewable electricity generators for renewable energy exported to the grid. These schemes support electricity generated from a range of renewable sources including small scale hydro, biomass and wind. Small scale renewable micro-generation is eligible to apply for support under the REFIT schemes.

The Energy White Paper sets out a high-level framework for Ireland's energy transition to a low carbon economy and society and identifies a range of measures and actions to support this aim. One key action is to explore the scope to provide market support for micro generation.  This will be informed by an analysis which has been completed by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) of the potential of technologies in the field of small-scale wind, solar, micro-CHP and small-scale hydro.

While I have no statutory function in the regulation of the electricity market, I am aware that from February 2009 Electric Ireland offered a feed-in tariff on a commercial basis to domestic micro-generators but which was subsequently closed to new entrants from the end of 2014. More recently, Electric Ireland extended the tariff to their existing customers from the end of 2015 until the end of 2016.  To date, no other electricity supplier has chosen to provide such a tariff, to either domestic or commercial customers, although they have been invited to do so by the Commission for Energy Regulation.

My Department is currently undertaking in-depth economic analysis to inform the cost of a new support scheme and the design of the support tariff - whether in the form of a grant payment or feed-in tariff. While no decision has been taken on the precise renewable technologies to be supported, the cost and technical viability of a range of renewable technologies are being examined as part of the assessment process.  A further public consultation will be advertised on the Department’s website www.dccae.gov.ie. Itis expected that the new scheme will become available in 2017 subject to Government approval and State aid clearance from the European Commission.

Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
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551. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the Government and the various Departments can come together to draw up new plans to update the renewables industry (details supplied). [29423/16]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The Energy White Paper published last December sets out a coherent high-level framework for Ireland’s energy transition to a low carbon system and society and identifies a range of measures to accelerate the development and diversification of renewable energy in Ireland, including:

- The REFIT schemes which underpin the development of a range of renewable electricity technologies, including hydro, biomass combustion, biomass combined heat and power, landfill gas and onshore wind. Small scale renewable generation is also eligible to apply for support under the REFIT scheme;

- Two new renewables support schemes which are under development - a Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) aimed at increasing renewables in the heat sector, and, a Renewable Electricity Support Scheme aimed at providing support for renewable electricity (RESS). An initial public consultation was launched for both schemes in 2015. A further consultation for the RHI is planned before year-end, with the scheme being fully operational in the second half of 2017. A further RESS consultation is due to take place in the first quarter of 2017, with the broad details of the scheme being published later in 2017. Finalisation of these schemes is subject to Government and State aid approval from the European Commission;

- Since February 2009 Electric Ireland have offered a feed-in tariff on a commercial basis to domestic micro-generators. The tariff was closed to new entrants from the end of 2014. More recently, Electric Ireland extended the tariff to their existing customers from the end of 2015 until the end of 2016.  To date, no other electricity supplier has chosen to provide such a tariff, to either domestic or commercial customers, although they have been invited to do so by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER).

- A number of energy efficiency schemes operated under the Better Energy Programme by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department. The Better Energy Homes Scheme makes a range of grants available to home-owners who wish to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

The statutory minimum energy performance standards for buildings are addressed under Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Energy) of the Building Regulations and the accompanying Technical Guidance Documents the building regulations, which fall within the remit of the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.  In broad terms, since July 2008, the regulations have required that a reasonable proportion of the energy consumption to meet the energy performance of all new dwellings be provided from renewable energy sources such as solar thermal and photovoltaics.