Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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103. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if there are plans to expand the microgeneration support scheme to make it more accessible for schools, community groups, large housing developments and businesses to partake; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22405/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The phased introduction of the Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) began with the commencement of the domestic solar PV grant from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on 16 February last. The SEAI plan to introduce a grant in July for installations up to 6.0kW for non-domestic applicants, e.g. businesses, farms, schools, community and sports organisations etc. (maximum €2,400). Applicants under the MSS are also eligible to receive the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff for any residual exported electricity at a competitive market rate from their electricity supplier.Larger non-domestic applicants will be able to apply for a Clean Export Premium (CEP) tariff for installations greater than 6kW up to 50kW. The CEP will be offered at a fixed rate for 15 years, and eligible volumes will be capped at 80% of generation capacity to encourage self-consumption.

Businesses that use a large amount of electricity, will benefit most when they consume electricity on site from their own micro-generation. The financial business case for micro-generation for these high electricity users is already very strong.

My Department is also developing a support scheme for small-scale generators, i.e. above 50kW but smaller than those supported by the Renewable Energy Support Scheme (RESS) to enable larger businesses, schools and community projects to maximise their participation in the energy transition.. A public consultation on a draft scheme will be published later in 2022 and the scheme is expected to become available in 2023.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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104. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the use of micro-generation for domestic use will offset rising energy costs and the increased cost of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22406/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The phased introduction of the Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) began with the commencement of the MSS domestic solar PV grant on 16 February last, with grant levels up to a maximum of €2,400 available towards installation of Solar PV. Customers with micro-generation will reduce the variable (or per kWh) component of their electricity bills by replacing imported energy through self-consumption of micro-generated electricity. Maximising consumption of self-generated electricity will provide the most benefit to offset rising electricity costs and shorten the payback period for the investment.

Also the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff is now available for new and existing micro-and small-scale generators so that people can receive payment from their electricity supplier for all excess renewable electricity they export to the grid, reflective of the market value. This will reduce the portion of their bill related to the electricity consumed.

From January 2022, a tax exemption applies to income up to €200 per annum received by domestic micro-generators from their suppliers by way of the CEG.