Scheme is good news for renewable energy farmers across Mayo
THERE’S good news for the growing number of Mayo individuals, farmers, businesses and community groups involved in wind and solar power as they will be able to sell renewable electricity into the grid under a scheme being developed by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, according to Fine Gael TD Alan Dillon.
A new Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) is being designed to provide a route to market for citizens and communities. This will allow them to generate their own renewable electricity, for example, through solar panels on their roofs, and receive a fair price when they sell the excess into the grid, Deputy Dillon explained.
“The scheme design also seeks to establish the renewables self-consumer model of energy generation and consumption in Ireland, to support community and citizen participation in the transition to a nett-zero carbon economy, and to contribute to achieving our 2030 targets for renewable energy.
“This is fantastic news for the many renewable energy farmers across Mayo who have invested heavily in the sector across our county in an effort to reduce our carbon emissions and over dependence on fossil fuels,” Deputy Dillon said.
“This scheme will allow people and communities in Mayo and elsewhere to become active participants in the energy transition, something which those involved in such farming and their representative organisations have called for over several years.
“By producing and selling their own electricity, citizens, farmers, business owners and community organisations in Mayo can save on their energy costs and reduce their carbon footprint. I urge interested parties to get involved and have their say.”
Micro-generators will primarily serve their own consumption needs but will also be able to receive a payment for excess electricity exported back to the grid.
Added Deputy Dillon: “The scheme will ensure that there is equity in what supports are offered and how the cost of support is distributed. As part of the design, micro-generators must have first met minimum energy efficiency requirements for their properties.”
Minister Ryan is inviting the public to take part in a consultation on how the scheme will operate. The consultation is part of a broader movement towards greater citizen involvement in energy policy, committed to in the 2020 Programme for Government.
The public consultation will remain open until February 18. All responses should be submitted to publicconsultation_mss@decc.gov.ie or in writing to MSS Consultation, Electricity Policy Division, Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, 29-31 Adelaide Road, Dublin 2, Ireland, D02X285.