I propose to take Questions Nos. 174, 175, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185 and 186 together.
Through the first two RESS auctions, my Department has provided pathways and supports for communities to participate in renewable energy projects through the application of a community projects category and also through the requirement of a mandatory community benefit fund for all RESS projects.
In total, 7 community projects were successful in the RESS 1 auction, 4 projects remain in progress and are either energised or due to energise this year. All four are solar projects, totalling 16.95 MW in generation. In RESS 2, 8 community projects were successful in the auction, are continuing to progress though the RESS 2 Implementation Agreement milestones and are expected to energise by end of 2025.
Through my Department’s continued engagement with Renewable Energy Communities (RECs), there is evidence of significant challenges that REC projects may face with the competitive, auction based nature of RESS, along with grid and other and other barriers to project delivery.
Support for communities for the development of renewable projects will now transition to the non-competitive Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS). The export tariff phase of SRESS, to support small scale and community renewable projects, is due to be launched later this year. This is expected to offer a simpler route to market for community projects and boost community participation in the Government’s renewable energy ambition.
Responsibility for connection to and charging for access to the electricity network is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). The management of new connections to the electricity grid, including community led energy projects is a matter, at distribution level, for ESB Networks and, at transmission level, for EirGrid, under rules determined by the CRU.
I have asked officials in my Department to forward the queries raised in the questions to the relevant system operator for their attention and direct reply to the Deputies.