Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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160. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if grants are available to install solar panels and wind turbines in domestic houses; to detail the criteria applied to these grants; and the timeframe within which it is expected these grants will remain in place. [51684/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Domestic Solar PV grant scheme under the Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and is open to houses built prior to 2021. The scheme came into operation in February 2022 and built on the success of the previous pilot version of the grant scheme. As part of the transition between schemes, the minimum BER C3 requirement was removed and the eligibility of the homes was changed from those built prior to 2011, to those built prior to 2021.

Micro-generation has an important role in creating opportunities for homes, schools, community groups and small commercial customers to take the first steps towards investment in renewable technologies, by generating and consuming their own electricity, which can help offset rising electricity prices as well as decarbonise homes and businesses.

The Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) provides capital grants through the SEAI for domestic applicants for Solar PV installations up to 6.0kW, primarily for self-consumption. Grant amounts are currently up to a maximum of €2,400 in 2023. The SEAI will also be assessing extending such support to other technologies under the MSS, including Micro-Hydro, Micro-Wind and micro-renewable CHP.

Solar PV grant eligibility criteria will be kept under review, and changes to the Domestic or Non-domestic schemes will be made when necessary. One such review and adjustment was approved on July 4th of this year, when Government approved amendments to the Non-Domestic Microgeneration Scheme, operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), to significantly expand the range of grant supports available for business and other non-domestic applicants.

Additionally, on 1 May 2023, the rate of VAT for the supply and installation of solar PV systems in private dwellings was reduced to zero, which further supports householders wishing to invest in microgeneration technology.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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161. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment what assessments of the existing barriers and potential of development of renewable energy communities have been conducted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51710/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Renewable Energy Directive (RED) is the legal framework for the development of clean energy across all sectors of the EU economy, supporting cooperation between EU countries towards this goal. The most recently revised RED enters into force on 23 November 2023.

Article 22(3) of the recast RED requires Member States to carry out an assessment of the existing barriers and potential of development of Renewable Energy Communities in their territories. In February 2022, I signed the Regulations that transpose Articles 21 and 22 of the recast Renewable Energy Directive, which brings these Articles into force.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)'s community enabling framework has been put in place to address some of the key challenges of developing community renewable projects.

My officials are currently focused on bringing a Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS) into place. The export tariff phase of SRESS, to support small scale and community renewable projects, is due to be launched in the coming months. This scheme is being designed to align closely to the experience and capacity of the community energy sector and support a sustainable delivery pathway to the renewable energy community target of 500 MW by 2030.

In preparation for SRESS, SEAI has recently undertaken five grid studies on a county basis to support communities in identifying sites within their locality that are most likely to have an economically viable grid connection. These are helping community groups, that have ambitions of developing their own grid scale projects, to better understand which locations are more likely to be feasible for renewable community energy project development.

Grid connection generally is a major challenge for communities, which is something that the Commission for Regulation of Utilities is also examining as part of a review of its electricity generation connection policy.

Bringing the SRESS into place will help to remove existing barriers and assist with the potential of development of renewable energy communities. Once the scheme is in place, my officials will consider any further obligations around the above assessment.