Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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700. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which microgeneration of electricity might be used by the agri-food producing sector to mitigate against carbon emissions; the availability of models whereby this might be successfully done; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54180/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Microgeneration has an important role to play in empowering and driving engagement and participation of not only farmers but communities and domestic households in the generation of renewable electricity as part of the energy transition.

The importance of microgeneration in mitigating against carbon emissions has been reflected in the inclusion of targets for this area in the recently released Climate Action Plan 2021 - Securing Our Future. This Plan sets out actions to introduce a Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) which supports deployment of an expected 260 MW of new micro (50 kW) to support the deployment of rooftop and ground-mounted solar PV.

Microgeneration at farm level should be seen in the first instance as a cost saving measure which will also assist in lowering the carbon footprint of Irish farms. It can then also provide an additional income stream and a diversification opportunity.

To help encourage on-farm renewable technology uptake and usage on Irish farms, grant aid is provided through my Department under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS II).

This scheme continues to support our farmers in maximising their contribution to the displacement of energy demand through the installation of mainly roof-top Solar PV technology along with battery storage on Irish farms across the country.