Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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71. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the average cost for a renewable energy community to connect to the grid in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36268/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The information requested in the Question is not held by my Department. Responsibility for the arrangements for and cost of connecting to the electricity network, including for community energy projects, is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). The management of connections to the electricity grid are matters for ESB Networks and EirGrid, under rules determined by the CRU.

Grid connection availability and cost remains a major challenge for community and small-scale renewable projects, which do not have the economy of scale advantages of larger projects.

The regulatory framework for grid connections for renewable community energy projects needs to be reviewed in order to develop a strong pipeline of community energy projects that is consistent with the Climate Action Plan target of 500 MW of community energy projects by 2030 and the supports to be provided for under the Small Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS).

CRU is in the process of drafting a new electricity connection policy that will consider such issues and it is understood that this is due to be published by the end of September.

One of the aims of the new electricity generation connection policy is to better facilitate mini-generation, small-scale generation, and renewable energy communities. It is critical that the revised regulatory policy facilitates a sustainable and vibrant community renewable energy sector.

Under the Community Enabling Framework SEAI has also recently undertaken seven 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.