The Programme for Government commits to expanding and incentivising micro-generation to help people generate renewable electricity for their own use and sell excess electricity back to the grid, in order to ensure that a greater share of our electricity needs is met through solar power.
A Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff represents the first phase of a comprehensive enabling framework for micro-and small-scale generators in Ireland, allowing them to receive remuneration from their electricity supplier for all excess renewable electricity exported to the grid, reflective of the market value of that electricity.
The CEG will be available to all renewables self-consumers later this year, including those with solar PV installations, subject to regulatory arrangements and the transposition of Articles 21 and 22 of the recast Renewable Energy Directive (RED II). The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published a consultation on a draft enabling framework on 1 October which outlines the details for the introduction of the CEG payment, along with eligibility criteria and timescales for introduction. The CRU proposes that a competitive approach will apply to the CEG tariff. I understand the CRU consultation will last four weeks, with a decision expected to be published in November and a compensation regime expected to follow shortly afterwards.