Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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190. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated cost in 2024 if the capital budget allocation for the non-domestic microgeneration scheme were doubled. [39099/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Non-Domestic Microgen grant, as part of the wider Microgeneration Support Scheme, commenced in September 2022. The grant is operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and provides financial assistance to help businesses and other organisations to install solar PV panels to generate electricity on site.

The initial non-domestic scheme enabled applicants such as businesses, farms, schools, and community buildings to apply for a grant for installations up to 6kW, at the same grant amounts as domestic customers, that is, up to a maximum of €2,400. An extended funding range from €2,700 to €162,600 was introduced in July 2023 to support non-domestic installation sizes between 7 kWp and 1,000 kWp (1 MW) capacity, on a pilot basis to the end of 2023.

The initial capital budget profile for the scheme for 2023, based on figures provided by the SEAI on the expected level of grant support, was €2 million. The introduction of enhanced supports are estimated to cost up to €15 million to cover the remainder of 2023. However, this is ultimately a demand-led scheme and actual grant payment figures are dependent on the performance and operations of the scheme. The annual cost of the expanded supports if continued, at the same estimated uptake level, would be approximately €30 million. Doubling the budget allocation for this scheme in 2024 would therefore cost €60 million.