Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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750. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the date by which he anticipates the renewable heat incentive scheme will be opened; if he has considered grandfathering in existing installations that meet the terms of the RHI scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11496/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The introduction of a Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is a commitment in the Programme for Government and Energy White Paper, and will be the primary support mechanism in the heating sector designed to meet Ireland’s renewable energy obligations. During 2016, my Department undertook a detailed economic assessment on the design and cost of the RHI for heat users the industrial and commercial sector. This assessment included a range of renewable energy technologies and focused on the approximately 3,000 large commercial and industrial heat users in the non-Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) in Ireland.

In order to support on-going investment in the renewable heating sector, my Department is seeking clearance from the European Commission that RHI support can apply to RHI applicants who meet the criteria of the scheme and were completed and first commissioned between the Government announcement on the RHI in July 2014 and the start date of the RHI.

If permission is granted for this grandfathering decision by the European Commission the successful applicants will be eligible to apply for support but will have to meet all the terms and condition of the new scheme. A final decision on grandfathering will form part of the state aid clearance notification for the RHI Scheme.

The public consultation on the design and implementation of the new RHI scheme was conducted on the Department’s website recently, and I am encouraged by the large number of submissions received to this consultation. The information provided will help to inform the final design of the new scheme.

Before the RHI scheme is introduced, the overall costs and technologies to be supported will be subject to Government approval and State aid clearance from the European Commission. It is expected that the RHI will be open for applications before the end of the year.