From:Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment

Minister for Climate, Energy, and the Environment Darragh O’Brien today highlighted the continued, remarkable growth being made in the deployment of solar energy across Ireland, and its contribution to a secure, sustainable, and affordable energy future for generations to come.

Speaking following today’s Solar Ireland conference in Dublin, the Minister said that Ireland is seeing the benefits of sustained action to accelerate renewable electricity generation. Solar deployment is expanding at pace, alongside significant progress in wind energy.

Solar Ireland also published its ‘Scale of Solar’ report today, which underlines the solar sector’s growing role in strengthening energy security, reducing carbon emissions, and attracting investment across the country.

Commenting, Minister O’Brien said:

“Ireland is making remarkable progress in our renewable electricity acceleration. Across the country we are seeing renewable projects being delivered at scale, and communities participating in our energy transition. A rooftop revolution is underway, as households take up Government grant supports to install rooftop solar.

“We currently have over 8 GW of renewable electricity generation capacity connected to the network. To put that into perspective, we have added approximately 5 GW of new renewable electricity generation capacity in just ten years. That includes a doubling of our wind energy capacity, along with establishing a strong solar energy supply. Just over 10 years ago there were 2 MW (Mega Watts) of solar in Ireland. Now there are over 2.5 GW (Giga Watts).

“The ‘Scale of Solar’ report – published by Solar Ireland today – reflects how solar energy is now firmly established as a key pillar of our electricity supply, from rooftop installations to utility-scale solar farms. In a few short years solar has gone from a near zero contributor to become a major component of our electricity supply and is now the third highest supplier of indigenously generated electricity to the electricity grid.

“By reducing demand on the grid during daylight hours, solar energy helps to alleviate demands from other energy sources at key times – this supports a more resilient energy system. Evidence shows that both rooftop and utility-scale solar generation are increasingly displacing gas generation during midday periods, particularly at this time of year when solar is at its strongest. This will ultimately help to lower electricity costs for households and businesses.”

The Government has introduced a range of measures to support solar deployment, including the Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS), the Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS), and the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS). These schemes are helping households, businesses, farms, and communities to participate in Ireland’s renewable electricity transition.

“The successful solar growth in Ireland has been underpinned by clear Government policy and targeted support schemes and measures. Through initiatives such as the solar PV grant, and our various renewable electricity support schemes, solar deployment is supported at every scale. We are committed to funding the Solar PV grant for the lifetime of this Government, up until 2030.

“The increasing affordability challenges – arising out of recent global events – underline the importance of continuing and accelerating the energy transition. Every megawatt of renewable electricity added to our system helps reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels; this will stabilise prices in the long term and ensure a secure and affordable supply of indigenously produced electricity for Irish households and businesses.

“A diversified renewable electricity mix helps ensure a more stable and reliable electricity supply. Wind and solar complement each other by generating electricity at different times, under different weather conditions.”

The next onshore Renewable Electricity Support Scheme auction, RESS 6, is due to commence later this year. It is expected to see strong competition and downward pressure on prices.

Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS)

The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is Ireland’s flagship support scheme for grid-scale renewable electricity generators and has been a key driver of Ireland’s renewables success story so far.

RESS has been instrumental in providing a supportive policy environment for Ireland’s growing renewables sector since the first auction in 2020. The scheme aligns closely with the work of the National Energy Affordability Taskforce through the range of consumer protection measures included in the auction design, including the two-way contract for difference mechanism, as well as by being the primary means of delivering the long-term energy transition and associated benefits for consumers.

Five onshore RESS auctions have been held to date, with the sixth onshore auction due to commence later this year.

Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS):

The Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS) offers two different options for renewable electricity projects.

The first option is for SRESS grants that are available for renewable self-consumers above 50 kW and up to 1 MW through SEAI’s Non-Domestic Microgen Grant. This grant is for those who want to install solar panels to power their own business, community building or farm. They use the electricity generated and any excess electricity produced can be stored in a battery or sold back to their electricity supplier through the Clean Export Guarantee.

The second option, the SRESS export phase, is designed for business, community, and farmer export only projects above 50 kW to up to 6 MW. SRESS offers a simpler route to market for those groups, with fixed tariffs for solar and wind, without performance bonds or auctions, aligning more closely to the capacity of those sectors. All export projects up to 1 MW can also apply for what is termed the SRESS export tariff and need not be a SME or farmer owned project.

Micro-Generation Support Scheme (MSS):

The Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) provides support to domestic and non-domestic applicants for renewable installations through grants provided by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

These applicants are also eligible to avail of the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff, allowing them to receive payment from their electricity supplier for excess renewable electricity they export to the grid, reflective of the market value of the electricity. The Department is aware of CEG tariffs ranging from 15c/kWh up to 25c/kWh.

Since 2018, the MSS has supported the installation of Solar PV for over 115,000 homes.

The first phase of the MSS saw the introduction of the Domestic Solar PV grant on 16 February 2022. Domestic applicants can apply to the SEAI for a grant towards the cost of installing solar PV panels.

Further information on the Domestic Solar PV grant is available at:Solar Electricity PV Grants | Home Energy Grants | SEAI.