Written answers
Tuesday, 31 May 2022
Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
Renewable Energy Generation
Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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98. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if there are any direct grants available to SMEs for the installation of photovoltaic solar panels, and if he could outline the range of grants and supports currently available specifically to SMEs to improve energy efficiency and usage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27762/22]
Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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99. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if there are business grants for solar panel installation; if not, when they will become available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27763/22]
Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 99 together.I propose taking Question Nos 98 & 99 together There are a wide range of capital supports funded by my Department and administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) that support businesses to reduce their carbon emissions and improve their energy efficiency:
The Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH) provides financial support in the adoption of renewable heating systems by commercial, industrial, agricultural, district heating and other non-domestic heat users.
The EXEED Certified grant scheme supports organisations with the costs of embedding energy efficient design in their assets, to reduce lifecycle impact with lower energy use and carbon emissions.
The Support Scheme for Energy Audits supports SMEs with a €2,000 voucher towards the costs of a professional energy audit.
The Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) capital grant for solar PV installations up to 6.0kW, also administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), will be available to businesses up to a maximum of €2,400 in the coming months.
For full details on these, and other supports available, please see www.seai.ie/business-and-public-sector/
On the 15 February this year I signed the Regulations that create an obligation on suppliers to offer the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff to new and existing micro-and small-scale generators so that they will receive payment for excess renewable electricity they export to the grid, reflective of the market value.
In Quarter 3 of this year the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) will consult on an implementation plan for the Clean Export Premium (CEP) tariff, a guaranteed export tariff support for new installations which is fixed for 15 years for non-domestic applicants for installations greater than 6.0kW up to 50kW in size.
The Climate Action Plan 2021 also commits to the development of a support scheme for small-scale generation (above 50kW). The design of the scheme is being progressed in 2022 and will become available next year.
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