Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2024
85. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the breakdown of the funding drawn down by renewable energy communities in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36283/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Question No. 169 of 14 December 2023. The Renewable Energy Support Scheme (RESS) Community Enabling Framework was launched in 2022. It provides a range of supports, including grant funding of potentially up to €180,000, offered from SEAI to community renewable energy projects, to help them participate in the RESS. To date, two community projects (both under RESS 1 in 2022) have received €40,000 each in grant funding.
The funding allocated enables SEAI to deploy a number of capacity-building supports including an information warehouse, trusted intermediary and advisor services, and financial grant supports, all of which are vital to support community owned renewable energy projects to be built.
My Department is working closely with the SEAI and community groups to assess the barriers to community energy projects, to ensure a long term sustainable future for the community energy sector in Ireland.
Community projects will now transition to the non-competitive Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS), enabling community projects to maximise their participation in the energy transition.
The first phase of SRESS was launched in July 2023. This sees both SRESS and the Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) providing support to communities, larger businesses, farms, and public buildings, with grants that support solar installations. These non-domestic scheme grants are supporting renewables self-consumers to invest in systems of up to 1MW in size.
The export tariff phase of SRESS, is due to open for applications by the end of the year, and will be a major step forward in supporting the community energy sector.
