Homes, farms and businesses to benefit from Micro-generation Support Scheme
A NEW Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) to assist homes, businesses, farms and communities to develop renewable generation for self-consumption has been approved by government.
The micro-generation enabling framework introduces payments to micro-generators for exported electricity for the first time.
The MSS is targeting support for 380MW of installed micro-generation capacity, to contribute to the target of up to 2.5GW of solar renewables under the Climate Action Plan. Depending on panel size, that equates to over 1 million solar panels, on approximately 70,000 buildings.
Deputy Alan Dillon warmly welcomed today’s announcement, saying: “I am delighted to see government approve the Micro-generation Support Scheme. I have raised the rank of the scheme with Minister Eamonn Ryan on several occasions in the Dáil and today marks an important step on our energy transition journey.
“The Microgeneration Support Scheme creates opportunities for domestic, community, farming and small commercial customers to take the first steps towards investment in renewable technologies for their own consumption and receive a payment for any residual electricity they export to the grid. This can play a major role in shaping electricity demand and decarbonising homes and businesses.”
The scheme, he explained, will support community enterprises including sports clubs and community halls, which will be eligible to participate, either as individual micro-generators or as community projects within the scheme. Non-domestic applicants will also be eligible to receive the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff for any exported electricity at a competitive market rate from their electricity supplier.
Continued Deputy Dillon: “This is also fantastic news for the many renewable energy farmers across Mayo who have invested heavily in the sector in an effort to reduce our carbon emissions and over dependence on fossil fuels.”
Supports under the MSS will gradually reduce over time from 2024, based on reaching specific deployment milestones. It is expected that supports for new installations will begin to be phased out from 2028.