While welcoming the announcement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Denis Naughten of the pilot Domestic Solar PV Grant Scheme, along with the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS), IFA renewable energy leader Tom Short said that it is critical that properly funded schemes are put in place. This should be done as a matter of urgency to support the development of farm-scale community-based renewable energy projects, including commercial rooftop solar panels, he said.

“The successful development of renewable energy projects across much of Europe has been predicated on providing the proper financial supports as green energy generation is more expensive than that from fossil fuels. If Ireland is to meet its EU renewable targets and address security of supply issues, it is important that the full range of renewable technologies available are deployed and adequately supported under grant aid schemes.

“One of the main flaws with the switch away from feed-in tariffs to an auction-type system under the recently announced RESS is that it favours larger-scale projects, particularly wind, to the exclusion of small to medium farm-scale community-based projects.

“The financial viability of medium-sized, farm-scale, community-based projects is very much predicated on certainty around income generation. Financial institutions and investors will not become involved in or back these projects under an auction-based system as it fails to provide a guaranteed cashflow,” Short said.