Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

138. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of solar panel installations which are now selling surplus power back to the grid, distinguishing household suppliers, farm or business suppliers; if he has conducted a survey of the price being earned per kilowatt hour, and if he will indicate how he expects this practice to evolve in the coming years. [41987/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), which is accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas and not to me as Minister, has responsibility for the operation of the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG). In December 2021, the CRU published a Decision on an interim enabling framework for the CEG which outlines the arrangements for its implementation, including eligibility criteria and remuneration methodology.

As part of this, a renewables self-consumer must inform ESB Networks (ESBN) of their intention to install microgeneration via a declaration using the NC6 or equivalent form. ESBN then notify the relevant supplier that there is a registered export capability at the customer’s meter point and provide the meter readings to the supply company. The customer should then engage with their supply company to obtain more information relating to the export tariff on offer and the timing of payments under the clean export guarantee scheme.

While there is no single register to record the number of microgenerators exporting to the grid at any one time, NC6 submissions record the number of micro-generators who have registered their export capabilities. As of 22nd September 2023, ESBN have received 70,777 valid NC6 form applications from micro-generators nationwide, who contribute 264 MW of electricity generation capacity. ESBN currently do not distinguish between commercial, domestic and agricultural microgenerators.

The CRU are monitoring the operation of the CEG framework, including the level of export tariffs available in the market. At present, CEG tariffs offered by suppliers range from €0.14 to €0.25 per kWh exported. Export tariff setting is considered in the CRU’s review of the interim framework, which is currently out for consultation, ahead of developing an enduring CEG solution. More information is available in this consultation paper, published on the CRU website on 19th September: www.cru.ie/publications/27659/.