Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 November 2025
189. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his Department will investigate increasing feedback tariffs from anaerobic digesters and solar panels in order to incentivise the production of electricity on family farms by making green energy more sustainable. [66857/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government commits to promoting the Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS) to simplify market access for community, SME and farmer-owned solar and wind projects.
SRESS offers two options to help farmers, communities and businesses lower electricity consumption costs or generate income. The first option provides non-domestic grants via SEAI for self-consumers investing in systems up to 1MW.
Additionally, suppliers must offer a Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff for excess electricity exported to the grid, reflective of the market value. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) monitors the CEG framework.
The second option is the SRESS export phase. This is designed for farmer, community, and SME export only projects above 50kW to 6MW. SRESS offers simple fixed tariffs to farmers and others, for solar and wind generation.
The export scheme opened for applications in January. The SRESS application form, as well as first steps guides for exporters and for renewable self-consumers, are both available on the Department’s website at www.gov.ie/SRESS.
There are no immediate plans to review the SRESS tariffs, and the scheme still has adequate capacity.
Additional supports are available to farmers through the TAMS 3 Solar Capital Investment Scheme for self-consumption solar PV projects up to 62kW.
The development of anaerobic digestion (AD) plants is supported by capital grants. The National Biomethane Strategy commits to two grant programmes. One was launched by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in 2024 and was fully subscribed.
A second grant programme will be the responsibility of my Department and will run from 2026 to 2030, with a funding allocation of €100 – €200 million. I will announce further details on this in 2026.
The Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH) provides tariff aid for AD biogas, but it incentivises switching to renewable heat, not electricity production.
