John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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53. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount of energy generated by means of solar power; the necessary actions that must be taken to significantly increase solar power production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37451/18]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The 2017 report of Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) "Energy in Ireland" indicates that Solar Photovoltaic (Solar PV) generation accounted for 0.01% of energy contribution to gross electricity consumption in Ireland at the end of 2016.

I welcome and have noted reports of the falling costs of certain renewable technologies, including Solar PV and Offshore Wind, over the past number of years, not only compared with other renewables but also with conventional forms of generation. Furthermore, analysis by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA 2017) forecasts that Solar PV costs will continue to fall a further 50% globally out to 2020.

Increasing renewable technology diversity is one of several policy objectives of my Department. In July, Government approved the high level design of the new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) and this Scheme will now proceed through the EU State Aid approval process. It is expected that the first renewable electricity auction will take place under RESS in 2019.  

The RESS has been designed to deliver Ireland’s contribution towards an EU-wide renewable energy target of 32% out to 2030, within a competitive auction-based, cost effective framework. The Scheme will provide for a renewable electricity (RES-E) ambition of up to a maximum of 55% by 2030 subject to determining the cost effective level, which will be set out in the draft National Energy and Climate Plan to be submitted to the EU Commission in December. The RESS will deliver a broad range of policy objectives including the provision of pathways and supports for communities to participate in renewable energy projects, broadening the renewable electricity technology mix and increasing energy security, energy sustainability and ensuring the cost effectiveness of energy policy.

The Government recognises the important role that Solar PV can play as part of a mix of renewable generation and the RESS will offer a potential pathway for Solar PV projects at scale, within a cost competitive framework.  My Department already supports Solar PV through the SEAI-led Better Energy Communities and pilot Deep Retrofit schemes, and in July I launched a pilot micro generation scheme to support Solar PV targeting domestic users and self-consumption.

In addition to these opportunities, Solar PV is supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, under the Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme (PPIS) as part of  the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS). Complimentary programmes like these delivered across a number of Government Departments are crucial in delivering our climate and energy ambitions as laid out in the National Development Plan and Project Ireland 2040.