Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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63. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when a community facility (details supplied) in County Kerry that has invested in solar PV panels will get a return for its excess electricity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55102/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government commits to expanding and incentivising micro-generation, including solar PV, to allow electricity users, including community groups, to generate their own electricity for their own use and to sell excess electricity to the grid. The Climate Action Plan 2021 reaffirms the Government's commitment to delivering a micro-generation policy framework.  

The pending introduction of a Clean Export Guarantee (CEG)  tariff will represent the first phase of a comprehensive enabling framework for micro-and small-scale generators in Ireland, including for community facilities. This will allow them to receive remuneration from their electricity supplier for all excess renewable electricity exported to the grid, reflective of the market value of that electricity.

  The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published a consultation on a draft enabling framework on 1 October which outlined the details for the introduction of the Clean Export Guarantee payment. The consultation is now closed and I understand a decision is expected to be published this month and a compensation regime expected to follow shortly afterwards.  

The CRU decision will outline the eligibility criteria which must be met in order for a renewables self-consumer to be eligible to receive the CEG. It is expected that these will include having notified ESB Networks via the relevant notification form that the user has installed micro-generation and an export connection from ESB Networks.  

In addition, where the customer's meter type is eligible for upgrade under the National Smart Metering Programme (NSMP), a smart meter must be installed. Where a customer's eligible meter type has not yet been upgraded under the NSMP, the CRU proposes that a deemed or estimated export calculation will apply.