Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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75. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a scheme will be devised for the production of electricity using solar energy. [17704/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Solar energy installations are eligible to compete in the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) which is a competitive auction-based scheme designed to support achievement of the renewable electricity (RES-E) ambition of 70% by 2030. The Climate Action Plan targets the delivery of indicative volumes of up to 1.5 GW of grid scale solar by 2030. Utility scale solar energy farms will be critical to diversifying the renewable technology mix and to deliver gains through connecting hybrid renewable technologies. The volume of connected solar in 2030 may well exceed this target if prices continue to fall and solar projects are successful in the RESS auctions.

The first RESS auction is currently underway with final results expected in September. This auction includes a preference category for solar energy projects. This preference category will ensure that a minimum quantity of solar is procured, which is expected to be approximately 10% of the overall auction amount subject to a competitive number of solar energy applications entering the RESS auction.

In July 2018, my Department also launched a new micro-generation scheme to support domestic customers who install solar photovoltaic panels in their homes.  The Solar PV scheme, which is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, is available to homes built and occupied before 2011 and details of eligibility criteria and how to apply are set out on the SEAI website. Potential future phases of support for micro-generation in Ireland may include a tariff, as we align with the ambition of the recast Renewable Energy Directive which recognises the rights, entitlements and obligations of renewable self-consumers.