Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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171. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps that he is taking to address the base-load cost of renewable energy; the studies completed and that are underway to address this challenge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23973/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Single Electricity Market (SEM) is the wholesale electricity market for the island of Ireland. The SEM is regulated by the SEM Committee and administration of the SEM is managed by the Single Electricity Market Operator. The SEM Committee comprises the two energy regulators, CRU and Northern Ireland’s Utility Regulator and an independent member.

In the SEM, all electricity generators, including gas and renewables, are obliged to sell their output into the “pool” within a European Union regulatory regime wherein electricity and gas markets are commercial, liberalised, and competitive.

The CRU is an independent statutory Regulator and is accountable for the performance of its functions to the Oireachtas and the CRU provides a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members, which enables them raise questions on energy regulatory matters to CRU at oireachtas@cru.ie for timely direct reply.

The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is one of the major Government policies to help deliver on the ambition in the Climate Action Plan 2021 of up to 80% renewable electricity by 2030. Renewable energy projects compete under the RESS in auctions for support for a period up to 16.5 years under a two way floating feed in premium.

Renewable energy generation such as wind lowers wholesale electricity prices during periods when they are generating power, highlighting the need to accelerate the delivery of renewable electricity projects and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels for energy generation.