The Micro-Renewable Energy Federation (MREF) met the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Denis Naughten in Dublin on 30 January to push for grant support for micro-generation projects for farms, homes and businesses.

The MREF estimates that 500,000 homes and 75,000 farms have suitable roof space to deliver up to 250mW electricity a year from rooftop PV solar installations.

MREF was set up after officials told farm and domestic renewable equipment suppliers that they were not heard in a Government consultation process dominated by large wind and solar farms developers.

It’s jointly chaired by the chief executive to Heat Merchants Alan Hogan and Local Power owner Pat Smith, who is the former secretary of the IFA.

Hogan said: “Ireland is under increasing pressure to deliver on its climate action targets. However, the public are fed up with ‘Big Energy’ utilities and developers having too much influence and control.

“With a little encouragement and government support, households, businesses and farmers are ready and willing to adopt renewables.”

The lobby organisation has asked the minister to provide a fixed grant of €500/kWp for homes and €400/kWp for commercial premises.

Smith previously told the Irish Farmers Journal that farmers in Ireland were, "ideally placed to help the country meet its renewable targets".

MREF hopes to utilise the public service obligation (PSO) levy charged to all electricity customers to help supply the grant.

“The funding required to support the build out of up to 250MW of rooftop solar per year is equivalent to 20% of the existing PSO levy paid by all consumers of electricity.

“We are asking the Government for priority support for the payers of the PSO levy to switch to renewables by adopting micro-generation to meet a sizable part of their energy needs,” Hogan concluded.

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