Thursday, March 28, 2024
2.6 C
Galway
HomeFarming NewsFarms to ‘benefit’ from Micro-generation Support Scheme
Catherina Cunnane
Catherina Cunnanehttps://www.thatsfarming.com/
Catherina Cunnane hails from a sixth-generation drystock and specialised pedigree suckler enterprise in Co. Mayo. She currently holds the positions of editor and general manager at That's Farming, having joined the firm during its start-up phase in 2015.
Reading Time: 4 minutes

Farms to ‘benefit’ from Micro-generation Support Scheme

According to Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, farms, homes, businesses, and communities will benefit from the MSS.

The minister announced government approval for the Micro-generation Support Scheme earlier today (Tuesday, December 21st).

He views this as an “important” step of Ireland’s energy transition journey.

He said the government is developing a framework of supports to enable homes, businesses, farms and communities to:

  • Install renewable generation for their own consumption;
  • Receive a payment for any residual electricity they export to the grid.

Micro-generation

Ryan believes micro-generation has an “important” role in empowering and driving engagement and participation.

He said it creates opportunities for domestic, community, farming and small commercial customers to take the first steps towards investment in renewable technologies.

- Advertisement -

This, he outlined, can play a role in shaping electricity demand and decarbonising homes and businesses.

“The enabling framework for micro-generators will support homes and businesses to participate as active energy citizens, reduce their energy costs and contribute to carbon reduction targets.”

“This is part of an overall government strategy to support the deployment of renewable generation out to 2030.”

MSS 

Support Scheme Who’s it for? What supports are available? When are the supports available?
Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS)
  • Domestic (homes) and non-domestic sites generating up to 5.9kW. This might equate to, for example, up to 18 typical solar panels on the roof of a house.
  • Payment per kWh (for surplus electricity ‘exported’ to the grid). This is known as the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG).
  • Home-owners will continue to be able to apply to the SEAI for a grant towards the cost of installing equipment. In 2022, the grants will be at the same level per kW as the current SEAI solar PV grant scheme (maximum €2,400).
  • Grants for businesses, farms, community buildings such as schools, sports clubs, etc, generating up to 5.9kW will be eligible for an SEAI grant at the same levels as domestic customers. This specific grant will be available later in 2022.
  • Access to the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) will commence early in the New Year.
  • SEAI grants are currently available for home-owners, under the existing supports.

 

  • Larger, non-domestic sites (farms; business properties; community buildings; etc) generating between 6kW and 50kW. This might equate to, for example, between 18 and 150 typical solar panels.
  • Set payment per kWh (for surplus electricity ‘exported’ to the grid) paid by suppliers for a set period of 15 years. This is known as the Clean Export Premium (CEP).
  • This will be operational in quarter 3 of next year (Q3 2022).
Small-scale Generation Support Scheme
  • Large businesses, farms, factories, etc, generating over 50kW up to 400kW.
  • Community projects up to 1,000kW.
  • Development of the scheme will consider the use of grants and/or tariff payments to support new installations.
  • This will be operational in 2023.
Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS)
  • Large utility-scale generators:
    • From 1MW for solar.
    • From 6MW for onshore wind for developers.
  • Community generators:
    • From 1MW to 5MW.
  • A ‘floating’ Feed-in-Premium tariff is awarded to successful projects.
  • This is already available. The first RESS auction was completed in September 2020, and the first project became operational in November 2021.

 

Supports 

This table summarises the supports available under the Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS).

Year of Microgen System Installation Domestic /

Non-Domestic <6kW system

Large Non-Domestic
6kW-50kW system
Maximum SEAI
grant
amount
Clean
Export Guarantee (CEG)
tariff
Clean Export Premium (CEP) tariff
€/kWh
2022 €2,400 Competitive market rate (CEG) available to all micro-generators €0.135
2023 €2,400 €0.135
2024 €2,100 €0.125
2025 €1,800 €0.115
2026 €1,500 €0.105
2027 €1,200 €0.095
2028 €900 Competitive market rate (CEG) available to all micro-generators for new installations from this point on
- Advertisment -

Most Popular