Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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187. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the design of a REFIT scheme for the solar energy sector; if he has given consideration to such a scheme; if he has met with those who wish to benefit from such a scheme; if so, the persons or groups he has met with; and the date he has met these groups during his tenure as Minister. [39957/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The 2016 Programme for Government and 2015 Energy White Paper recognise that Solar Photovoltaic (Solar PV) has the potential to provide a community dividend, thereby enhancing citizen participation in Ireland’s energy future and Solar PV has the potential to contribute to meeting Ireland’s renewable energy and climate change objectives.However, at present, Solar PV, for electricity generated and exported to the national grid, is not supported under any of the existing renewable electricity support schemes operating in Ireland. This is largely down to the historic higher costs associated with Solar PV in comparison to other renewable electricity technologies.

My Department is currently developing a new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) which will be designed to assist Ireland in meeting its renewable energy contributions to EU-wide targets out to 2030. The design of the new scheme has included an extensive economic appraisal. This appraisal compared the cost of supporting Solar PV (both rooftop and ground mounted) and a range of other commercial renewable technologies, at various scales, 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 assessment also included analysis of the optimum financial support mechanisms for renewable technologies, in line with the 2014 EU State Aid Guidelines.

A public consultation on the design principles of the proposed new RESS was launched on 4 September and submissions are invited from the public. All submissions will be considered and following on from this final consultation, a design proposal will be brought to Government for approval. Full details of the consultation are available on my Department’s website at: www.dccae.gov.ie.

Since coming into office I have twice met with representatives of the Solar Industry and details are set out in the following table:

During this period, officials from my office have met with commercial Solar companies and representatives of the Solar Industry on 7 separate occasions and the details are set out in the following table: