Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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450. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the direct investment made by the State and public or semi-State bodies via grants or other forms that is directed to solar or wind energy projects for each of the years 2013 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [40367/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The Renewable Electricity Feed-in Tariff (REFIT) schemes are the principal means of supporting renewable electricity generators for electricity exported to the grid. Renewable technologies supported under the REFIT schemes include Onshore Wind, Hydro, Biomass Landfill Gas, Biomass Combustion, Biomass CHP and Anaerobic Digestion CHP. This is paid for through the Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy which is paid for by all electricity consumers.At present, Solar PV, for electricity generation, is not supported under any of these REFIT schemes.  While  there are encouraging reports of  cost reduction in relation to solar PV, to date higher costs have been associated with Solar PV in comparison to other renewable electricity technologies.

The PSO Levy has been in place since 2001. The PSO levy facilitates a set of support schemes designed to facilitate the achievement of national electricity policy objectives for renewables and security of supply by using indigenous fuel sources.  The PSO has supported the connection of more than 3,000 MW of renewables to the electricity grid. It will continue to support the development of renewable energy to meet the 40% renewable electricity target by 2020.

The total amount and details of the PSO levy for each levy year are calculated and published annually by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). This material is publicly available at www.cer.ie.

The 2016 Programme for Government recognisesthat Ireland’s long-term interests are best supported by further decreasing our dependence on foreign fossil fuels through the continued development of indigenous renewable energy. To support the delivery of this ambition, my Department is developing a new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) which will be designed to assist Ireland in meeting its renewable energy contributions out to 2030.

A public consultation on the design principles of the proposed new RESS was launched on 4 September and submissions are invited from the public. Full details of the consultation are available on my Department’s website at: www.dccae.gov.ie

Details in relation to direct investment decisions made by State or semi State bodies are matters for the companies themselves and I have no function in relation to such.