Pa Daly
Question:504. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the Government's plan for hydroelectric power; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26220/26]
View answerTuesday, 14 April 2026
Questions (504)
Written answers
The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is Ireland's flagship scheme to support the deployment of new renewable generation projects, and has been instrumental in providing a supportive policy and investment environment for renewables in Ireland since the first auction in 2020.
All RESS auctions to date (i.e. RESS 1-5) have been technology neutral and have included hydroelectric generators as an eligible technology. In that time, no hydroelectric projects have applied to participate in the scheme.
My Department recently consulted on proposed design features of the next RESS auction, RESS 6, including the potential to limit eligibility for that auction to those technologies which have participated in the scheme to date and of which there is a strong pipeline of eligible projects. While feedback on this consultation is still under review and no final decision on the auction Terms and Conditions has been made, there has been no feedback to suggest there is an appetite for the development of new utility scale hydroelectric generation projects in Ireland, or that there is any current pipeline of hydroelectric projects which would otherwise be eligible to participate in the scheme.
Eligibility for future RESS auctions will be kept under review to ensure the scheme continues to provide an effective and cost efficient route to market for new renewables projects in Ireland and that it remains responsive to developing system needs and technology trends.