Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1789. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the renewable heat incentive scheme will be introduced; the rate to be paid per kilowatt hour; the rate to be paid per size of boiler; when this scheme will be fully operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28607/17]

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 will be the primary support mechanism in the heating sector designed to meet Ireland’s 2020 renewable energy obligations. The aim of the RHI is to build on the progress already made in the renewable heating sector and to help reach Ireland’s 12% target by 2020. Provisional data indicates that 6.6% of heat demand was derived from renewable sources in 2016. My Department has undertaken a detailed economic assessment on the design and cost of the RHI for the industrial/ commercial sector in Ireland.  This assessment included a range of renewable energy technologies and focused on large commercial and industrial heat users in the non-Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

Before any 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. Only when the final design of the scheme is approved will the tariff rates be published. I expect to be in a position to announce details of the new scheme by the end of the year.