Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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115. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will consider increasing grants for the installation of solar panels in domestic settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44977/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Government’s Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) is targeting 380MW of new renewable generation capacity to contribute to an overall revised target for solar PV of up to 5.5GW by 2030, under the Climate Action Plan and the recent Government agreement on the Sectoral Emissions Ceilings. The scheme design was supported by detailed economic and policy analysis, as well as a public consultation, prior to its approval in December 2021. Grants are currently available through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) for domestic installations, up to a maximum of €2,400 and will also be expanded to the non-domestic sector for installations up to 6kW before the end of September. Since the introduction of the MSS domestic grant in February 2022, the SEAI have seen application levels rise sharply and are forecasting the numbers for 2022 to be more than double the application levels seen in 2021, under the previous domestic solar PV grant scheme. By also removing the minimum BER requirement and including homes built up to 2020 within the scheme, this delivers energy savings for the widest range of homes possible, whilst also ensuring efficient use of scarce public financing.

While the level of interest indicates that the MSS is working well, its operation and effectiveness will be kept under review and adjustments made where necessary.

It should also be noted that maximising consumption of self-generated electricity will provide the most benefit to offset rising electricity costs and shorten the payback period for the investment in the installation of solar panels. Moreover, the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff is now available from all electricity suppliers, offering the opportunity for remuneration for any excess renewable electricity exported to the grid.