Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 165 together.

The Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) was launched on the 21st of December 2021, with the aim of supporting 380MW of new micro-generation capacity by 2030, under the Climate Action Plan. The scheme currently provides support to domestic applicants for renewable installations up to 50kW and to non-domestic applicants for installations up to 1000kW, in the form of grants provided through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

The non-domestic microgeneration scheme commenced on 22nd September 2022, providing supports to a variety of sectors including schools, businesses, small farms and community enterprises, for installations up to 6kW.

An extended funding range of up to €162,600 was introduced in July 2023 to support installation sizes up to 1,000 kWp (1 MW) capacity, on a pilot basis . This includes cohorts typically covered under the Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS).

Since the launch of the amended nondomestic microgeneration scheme, there have been over 860 applications with committed costs of over €14 million; amounting to a total installation capacity of approximately 69 MW.

Those investing in microgeneration will also be eligible to avail of the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff., which allows micro-and small-scale generators in Ireland to receive payment from their electricity supplier for all excess renewable electricity they export to the grid, reflective of the market value of the electricity. Tariff rates currently range from €15.89c/kWh to €25c/kWh.

The Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 3) Regulations 2022 and the supporting Planning and Development (Solar Safeguarding Zone) Regulations 2022 came into effect on 5 October 2022. The regulations provide updated provisions regarding planning exemptions for rooftop solar installations.

Exemptions apply to rooftops of industrial buildings, business premises, community and educational buildings, places of worship, health buildings, libraries, certain public utility sites and farms.

All exemptions are subject to certain conditions and limitations such as minimum distances from the edge of the roof and the general restrictions on exempted development in respect of protected structures and Architectural Conservation Areas

These regulations aim to bring Ireland into line with the EU’s Solar Rooftops Initiative by making permitting procedures for installing solar on rooftops shorter and simpler.