Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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120. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the full scheme design for the microgeneration support scheme will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54878/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) was approved by government on 21st December 2021 and sets out the overall framework to support the growth of microgeneration in Ireland. The MSS Final Scheme Design (FSD) will be used by industry to understand the rationale behind the final scheme design parameters and is expected to be published in full shortly. However, the phased introduction of the key MSS supports has already begun. Domestic applicants can apply to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) for a grant towards the cost of installing Solar PV equipment. In 2022 and 2023, capital grants are available up to a maximum of €2,400.

Non-domestic applicants including small businesses, farms, schools and community buildings are also now eligible to apply for a grant for installations up to 6kW; at the same grant amounts as domestic customers, of up to €2,400.

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 pilot solar PV grant scheme.

The final phase of the MSS involves the introduction of a Clean Export Premium (CEP) feed in tariff, which will offer a guaranteed export tariff support for new non-domestic installations between 6kW and 50kW in size. The tariff will be fixed for 15 years and is expected to be available in 2023, following the completion of an implementation plan by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). The CEP will be fixed for 15 years and eligible volumes will be capped at 80% of generation capacity, to encourage self-consumption. The CEP feed-in tariff will be 13.5c/kWh in 2023.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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121. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the results of the survey on the microgeneration support scheme will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54879/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Government approved the Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) design on the 21st December 2021 to support 380MW of new micro-generation capacity by 2030 under the Climate Action Plan. This approval was the culmination of an extensive consultation and design process, including an assessment of submissions to a public consultation on a high-level scheme design in January 2021 and a series of subsequent further detailed analysis and engagements throughout 2021. A Summary Report of Submissions Received for this public consultation was published in June 2021 and is available at the Government webpage ‘Public Consultation on a Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) in Ireland’ [gov.ie - Public Consultation on a Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) in Ireland (www.gov.ie)].

In developing the scheme design, a range of support options were considered, including the appropriate levels of export to meet the needs of all sectors and suitable payback periods that ensure citizens, businesses, farms and communities are incentivised to invest in micro-generation, primarily for self-consumption.

The MSS provides support to domestic and non-domestic applicants for renewable installations up to 50kW. These applicants will also be eligible to avail of the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff.

Further details for the scheme can be found at gov.ie - Micro-generation (www.gov.ie)

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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122. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the microgeneration support scheme participants will receive payment for excess renewable electricity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54880/22]

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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123. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated timeframe for future payments will be determined for the microgeneration support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54881/22]

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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124. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the tariffs for excess renewable electricity that suppliers export to the grid; the way that these will be correlated to current market value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54882/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 to 124, inclusive, together.

The Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) was approved by government on 21st December 2021 and the phased introduction of key MSS supports has already begun. Both Domestic applicants and non-domestic applicants (for installations up to 6kW) can apply to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) for a grant towards the cost of installing Solar PV equipment . Capital grants are currently available up to a maximum of €2,400.

In December 2021 the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published an interim decision for the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff which outlines arrangements for implementation of the tariff, including eligibility criteria and remuneration methodology. As part of this, the CRU decided that suppliers will set their individual CEG tariffs on a competitive market basis which must be reflective of the market, or wholesale, value of the electricity, in line with the requirements of Article 21(2)(d) of the recast Renewable Energy Directive.

I am aware that suppliers have published a range of CEG tariffs from €13.5c/kWh up to €20c/kWh which allows customers to shop around to obtain the best rates for selling and purchasing electricity. I am also aware that while suppliers have advertised their rates, not all suppliers have made initial payments. The CRU has asked suppliers to communicate their decision to their customers on when initial CEG payments will be made at the earliest opportunity. However, it is important to note that microgenerators will not lose out, as payments will be backdated to the date of eligibility or 15 February 2022 (the date the regulations were enacted), whichever is the latest.

It should be noted that a domestic electricity consumer is charged a retail electricity price which is set by their supplier, taking account of the cost to purchase electricity on the wholesale market, to cover the operational costs of the company and their operating margin; while also remaining competitive in the marketplace. This also includes the network charges required for use of the electricity grid. As such, retail electricity prices and CEG remuneration tariffs cannot be compared on a like for like basis.

It is a matter for the CRU to review the interim CEG arrangements with a view to putting in place an enduring solution.