Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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170. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of homes that have applied for SEAI solar grants; the number of homes that have been approved for solar for each year since its inception, up to and including 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10888/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) was approved by Government in December 2021, in order to support Ireland’s ambitious targets for micro-generation installations, under the Climate Action Plan. The MSS provides supports to both domestic and non-domestic applicants, in the form of grants which are available through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), up to a maximum of €2,400.

Prior to the introduction of the MSS, the SEAI had been operating a "pilot" Solar PV grant scheme since 2018. To date SEAI has received over 34,000 applications in total for solar PV grants, supporting over 19,000 homes during this time.

In 2022 alone, the SEAI provided €24.4m in grants towards the installation of 46.5 MW of Solar PV capacity.

A breakdown of the number of homes that have applied and have been approved for SEAI Domestic solar PV grants for each year since its inception is provided in the table below.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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171. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide an update on the development of the small-scale generation support scheme; the policy measures that will be included in this proposal; when it will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10889/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Climate Action Plan 2023 commits to the development of a Small-Scale Generation Scheme (SSGS) to support non-domestic renewable electricity generators above 50kW, but smaller than those supported under the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS). This scheme will enable larger businesses, farms, public buildings, and community projects to maximise their participation in the energy transition.

The scheme proposes to support applicants, including renewables self-consumers, to install renewable electricity generators up to 1MW, with 100% Renewable Energy Community (REC) projects to be supported up to 6MW.

Through my Department’s continued engagement with RECs, there is evidence of significant challenges that REC projects may face with the competitive, auction based nature of RESS. The SSGS is not anticipated to include an auction process and is therefore expected to offer a simpler route to market for community projects and boost community participation in the Government’s renewable energy ambition.

Following a consultation process on the high-level design of the SSGS undertaken in Autumn 2022, my Department is progressing the scheme design and I expect to launch the SSGS later this year.