Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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18. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to provide an update on the community renewable energy projects that have been energised; the proportion of projects that secured a contract at auction that have been energised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6657/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Seven community projects were successful in the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme 1 (RESS 1) auction, (five solar and two wind projects). Of these seven projects, three have now energised. These community projects have been enabled by the RESS scheme and have now entered into private arrangements for selling their renewable energy. Other RESS 1 community projects are also expected to energise and participate in the recently launched Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS).

Ten community projects were successful in the RESS 2 auction. Of these, eight solar projects signed implementation agreements to deliver under the RESS 2 terms and conditions and two wind projects did not take up the RESS 2 offer. Some projects may also develop through alternative routes to market, including SRESS. Due to commercial sensitivity, it would not be appropriate to comment in any more detail on these remaining RESS 1 and 2 projects.

Through my Department’s continued engagement with RECs, there is evidence of significant challenges that REC projects may face with the competitive, auction based nature of RESS, along with grid and other and other barriers to project delivery.

The Programme for Government commits to promoting the SRESS to simplify market access for community owned solar and wind projects. Support for communities for the development of renewable projects has now transitioned to SRESS.

The SRESS export phase is designed for community, SME and farm projects above 50kW to 6MW, offering a simpler route to market, with fixed tariffs for solar and wind, aligning more closely to their experience and the capacity of these sectors. 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 opened for applications on 27 January. The SRESS application form together with the terms and conditions and a non-technical summary, are available on the Department’s website at www.gov.ie/sress.