John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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295. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland grant for batteries relative to PV panels has been discontinued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20555/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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On the 15 February this year I signed the Regulations that transpose Articles 21 and 22 of the recast Renewable Energy Directive which brings these Articles into force. These Regulations mean the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff is now available for new and existing micro-and small-scale generators so that they will receive payment from their electricity supplier for all excess renewable electricity they export to the grid, reflective of the market value.The Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) domestic solar PV grant scheme commenced on the 16th February. Domestic applicants can apply to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) for a grant towards the cost of installing solar PV equipment, up to a maximum of €2,400 in 2022. Changes to the MSS scheme include the removal of the minimum post-works Building Energy Rating (BER) C requirement, homes built pre-2021 are now eligible and there is no need to install a battery to avail of the maximum grant. With the introduction of the CEG tariff, residual electricity not consumed on the premises is now eligible for an export payment which further supports the investment.

Following a public consultation, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published a decision on an interim enabling framework for the CEG on 1 December 2021.This decision outlines the interim arrangements for the implementation of the CEG, including eligibility criteria and remuneration methodology. The CRU has decided that suppliers will set their individual CEG tariffs on a competitive market basis.

Furthermore, a tax disregard of €200 was introduced in Budget 2021 in respect of personal income received by households who sell residual renewable electricity, which they generate, back to the grid.