Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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593. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans for the introduction of a renewable heat incentive for the production of solar electricity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40032/16]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The Programme for Government contains a commitment to facilitate the development of solar photovoltaic (PV) projects for electricity production in Ireland. This builds on the Energy White Paper published in December 2015 and recognises that solar PV also has the potential to provide a community dividend, thereby also enhancing citizen participation in Ireland's energy future.  With this in mind, solar PV is one of the technologies being considered in the context of a new support scheme for renewable electricity generation, which is under development by my Department.

The new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) will be subject to Government approval and State aid clearance from the European Commission, and pending those decisions is expected to become available in late 2017.

A Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) support scheme is also under development by my Department. This Scheme isaimed at supporting larger industrial and commercial installations outside of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) to change to heating solutions that produce heat from renewable sources, including solar thermal heating solutions.

Before a final decision is taken on the renewable heat technologies to be supported under the RHI, there will be an additional public consultation phase on the design of the new support scheme. The next consultation will be published before the end of this year and details will be posted to the Department’s website  www.dccae.gov.ie. The RHI is expected to be open for applications in the latter half of 2017.

The Deputy might also be interested to know that the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland currently provides supports for the use of solar thermal heating technology to both large industry and SMEs. Households can also avail of grant support for investment in renewable energy installations, including solar thermal, under the Better Energy Homes Scheme.