Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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111. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department is considering the installation of solar panels in schools as a form of energy for schools for heating and water and as a potential cost-saving initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44935/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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To facilitate switching to renewable energy sources I brought forward the final design of the Micro-Generation Support Scheme (MSS) which was approved by the Government in December 2021. The MSS is targeting support for 380MW of installed micro-generation capacity, to contribute to the revised target of up to 5.5GW of solar renewables under the Climate Action Plan and the recent Government agreement on sectoral emissions ceilings. Micro-generation has an important role to play as it creates opportunities for domestic, school, farming and small commercial customers to take the first steps towards investment in renewable technologies, by generating and consuming their own electricity, which can play a role in shaping electricity demand and decarbonising homes and businesses.

The MSS will provide capital grants for non-domestic applicants, such as schools, for solar PV installations up to 6.0kW primarily for self-consumption, with grant levels up to a maximum of €2,400 available. This will be administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and will become available to the non-domestic sector for installations up to 6.0kW by the end of September. In addition, the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff is now available from most electricity suppliers, offering the opportunity for new and existing micro-and small-scale generators, including schools, to receive payment for excess renewable electricity that they may export to the grid.

The SEAI in partnership with the Department of Education, are also working on the Pathfinder programme to improve energy performance of schools and are trialing retrofit and renewable heat solutions. Further details can be found on the attached links:www.seai.ie/business-and-public-sector/building-retrofit/pathfinder-programmewww.seai.ie/business-and-public-sector/building-retrofit/partnerships/.