Written answer
Electricity Generation
Small-scale renewable generation has expanded sharply, with over 3GW of solar installed, while grants and SRESS support continued development and tariff reforms are under review.
19. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will report on small scale renewable electricity generation; if he is satisfied with progress being made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65908/26]
Comment on this
In a few short years, small scale generation, mostly through solar, has grown considerably as a feature of our energy system.
In August, we reached a major milestone, surpassing 3 Gigawatts (GW) of installed solar capacity, including more than 1.2 GW of rooftop solar. Just over 10 years ago there were only 2 Megawatts of solar in Ireland, that’s an increase of more than a thousand-fold in a decade.
The Non-Domestic Microgen Grant Scheme provides financial assistance to help businesses and other sectors to install solar PV to generate electricity on site. Grants are available for systems up to a maximum of €162,600 for installations of up to 1MW. From its launch in 2022 to May 2026, this scheme has supported 3,160 installations totalling over €33 million.
The Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS) export tariff is designed for community, SME and farmer export-only projects above 50kW to 6MW. SRESS offers a simpler route to market for those groups, with fixed tariffs for solar and wind.
In February 2026, the Department commenced a review of the SRESS tariffs to ensure tariff levels remain effective and that the scheme provides appropriate support and value for money to consumers. The existing tariff rates continue to apply while this work is underway, with completion expected later this year.
Furthermore, the review is considering the creation of a distinct farmer-specific tariff as well as potential partnerships between communities and developers, by reviewing the 100% community ownership requirement.
An assessment is also currently being carried out by the OECD to further assess barriers and propose recommendations to further support community energy development, initial policy recommendations are due this year which will inform future policy approaches.