Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

143. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to expand the SEAI grants for solar PV available to householders to SMEs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46008/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In July 2018, details of a new pilot scheme to support micro generation were introduced, initially targeting domestic self-consumption through a grant scheme for solar PV installation and battery storage. The data gathered during the pilot scheme will inform potential future phases of support for micro-generation in Ireland that may be appropriate, as we align with the ambition and requirements of the recast Renewable Energy Directive (RED) that recognises the rights, entitlements and obligations of renewable self-consumers.The scheme will be subject to a six month review which will examine the uptake and the level of the grant, assess the costs associated with relevant technologies and explore opportunities for broadening the scheme to other groups, as appropriate. The objective of the pilot scheme is to help build a sustainable, enduring micro generation sector in Ireland including setting appropriate safety and qualification standards for the industry.

Micro generation, was also appraised as part of the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) economic assessment. The analysis identified a number of challenges that may need to be addressed before a financial support scheme (payment) for micro generation can be developed. These include a reform of network charges, an assessment of the distributional impact of such a policy decision on the PSO (cost burden sharing), and development of a fair tariff for exported electricity taking the benefits of self-consumption into account. This approach is in line with experience from other EU member states who have attempted to introduce supports for micro generation.

My Department currently offers  opportunities for SMEs to avail of supports for Solar PV and other energy efficiency measures through the SEAI-led Better Energy Communities scheme, details of which can be found www.seai.ie/grants/community-grants.