Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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103. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if solar farm developers receive grants or subsidies to develop solar farms; if the electricity they generate on solar farms is subsidised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1716/25]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Government has set a target of 80% renewable electricity by 2030, including a specific target of 8 GW of solar capacity.

My Department has established two key support schemes to meet these targets, addressing large-scale and smaller-scale generators. The first element, the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS), is characterised by a series of competitive auctions, with four to date held in 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

The RESS support price is set in a competitive auction where successful applicants are offered a two-way support arrangement for a period of up to 16.5 years. This arrangement guarantees developers and consumers a stable electricity price for that period. The scheme is funded via the Public Service Obligation (PSO).

The Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS) also provides financial incentives to develop smaller scale solar and wind energy, and was designed with two support mechanisms to suit two distinct cohorts of applicants.

Under SRESS Phase 1, grants are available for renewables self-consumers above 50 kW and up to 1 MW. Renewables self-consumers are electricity customers who produce renewable electricity for their own use. They may then sell or store any excess electricity that they produce, if electricity generation is not their primary business.

SRESS Phase 2 targets community, SME and farm export projects above 50kW to 6MW, offering a simpler route to market, with fixed tariffs for solar and wind. As with RESS, this is supported by the PSO. All export projects up to 1MW can also apply to SRESS, and need not be communities, SMEs or farmers. The scheme is due to open for applications on 27 January.