Written answer
Renewable Energy Generation
The Minister said wind and other renewables receive no direct State funding, relying on PSO-supported REFIT/RESS schemes, which have reduced consumer costs.
127. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the total value of financial support provided to wind energy generation in the State in each of the years 2021 to 2025 and to date in 2026, including all subsidies, grants, guaranteed or supported electricity prices, Renewable Electricity Support Scheme supports and any other financial support provided directly or indirectly through the State or borne by electricity consumers; to provide a breakdown by support scheme and year; the estimated total value of these supports over the period concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65500/26]
Comment on this
Under the Programme for Government, Government reaffirmed the target of increasing renewable generation to supply 80% of our electricity demand and to continue the annual Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) auction programme.
Technologies supported by RESS include onshore wind, solar, and hybrids. RESS and the predecessor REFIT projects receive support through the PSO levy but only once operational. The PSO levy is applied to all electricity customers as part of their bills. It protects consumers by supporting investments in renewable energy at predictable prices and reducing reliance on importing fossil fuels at volatile prices. In addition, when wholesale prices exceed the contract price, RESS projects must repay the difference back into the PSO.
Under the PSO, over 4.6 GW of grid-scale renewable generation is supported by the Renewable Energy Feed In Tariff (REFIT) schemes and the RESS. As such, neither wind nor solar grid-scale renewable energy projects receive any funding directly from the State.
The following table details the annual PSO levy for each year over the past five years. It should be noted that the negative figures are years in which the consumer received a net refund from the PSO.
In periods of higher market prices, projects contracted under RESS have returned savings for consumers through the PSO. According to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), RESS projects have reduced the overall cost of the PSO each year since RESS projects have been included on it.
The latest CRU Decision on the PSO Levy for the period October 2026 to September 2027 is available at www.CRU.ie.