Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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1253. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the grant schemes that exist for persons wishing to establish renewable energy projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35812/17]

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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1299. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the grant schemes that exist for persons or communities wishing to establish renewable energy projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35814/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1253 and 1299 together.

Current financial supports for renewable electricity projects are provided via the Renewable Electricity Feed In Tariff (REFIT) schemes, which support renewable electricity generated and exported into the national grid. Details of technologies supported under each scheme and the costs associated with each technology are listed in the following table in €/MWh.

Typically, projects availing of support under the REFIT schemes are large-scale developer-led renewable electricity projects, and there are currently no grant or subsidy schemes available specifically for community-led or citizen led renewable electricity projects.

Tariff per MWh (€)

The new RESS will also provide pathways for delivering on the 2015 Energy White Paper commitment to ensure communities and citizens are at the centre of the future energy transition in Ireland. Communities are effectively being designed into the fabric of the new scheme with policy measures to incentivise community-led and developer-led community projects being identified.

The economic appraisal is being undertaken to ensure that the new scheme delivers value for money for energy users whilst also delivering on the energy pillars of sustainability and security of supply. The appraisal also includes analysis of the optimum financial support mechanisms for renewable technologies, in line with the 2014 EU State Aid Guidelines.

My Department will publish a final public consultation on the design principles of the new RESS shortly. Following the outcome of this public consultation, and before any new scheme is introduced, it will need to secure Government approval and state aid clearance from the European Commission. Subject to this, it is expected that the new scheme will become operational in 2018.

Separately, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers a number of schemes on behalf of my Department. The Better Energy Communities (BEC) Scheme aims to support and encourage community based partnerships to improve the energy efficiency of homes, businesses and community facilities in a local area. To date the scheme has supported the upgrade of more than 14,000 homes and several hundred shared community facilities, from sports clubs to community centres and childcare facilities.

SEAI also administer the Better Energy Homes Scheme on behalf of my Department. The scheme supports private homeowners who wish to improve the energy performance of their home. Fixed grants are provided towards the cost of a range of measures including attic insulation, wall insulation, heating system upgrades, solar thermal panels and accompanying Building Energy Rating (BER).