Improved access for micro-generators will have to be prioritised if farmers and small businesses are to benefit from the €750m investment in the national electricity grid announced in the budget.
The investment was welcomed by the Micro-Renewable Energy Federation (MREF), but the industry body cautioned that access to the grid remains the key issue for farmers.
“The grid investment allocation announced in the budget by Minister Jack Chambers must prioritise access to the electricity grid for farmers and businesses engaged in micro-generation of renewable power so that they can export power for payment,” said MREF chair Pat Smith.
MREF fears that restricted grid access could delay or block farmer investment in micro-generating projects, putting a serious brake on the conversion to renewables.
“Grid constraints have become a major issue in some counties, including Donegal, and it is critical that the capital investment in the grid announced recently deals with these issues completely,” Smith added.
Grants available
The MREF chair also called on Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan to revisit the grants available to support domestic solar PV installations and battery storage to ensure that planned reductions in grants for solar PV are reversed and that grants for battery storage are reintroduced without delay.
It is estimated that there is almost 500MW of micro-generation capacity connected to the national grid. This includes around 110,000 homes connected to date, with this figure forecast to increase by around 40,000 per year.
Farmers need priority access to the electricity grid for renewable power generated on farm.
Close to 1,250 small businesses are connected under the mini generation scheme, with this figure expected to increase by 1,500 per year.
In addition, around 200 larger companies are currently plugged into the network under the Small-scale Connection Scheme, with this figure expected to grow rapidly.
“All of these homes and companies will use a significant portion of the energy generated themselves, so it would be a fair to say that a third of the total generated or around 150MW is exported to the grid. That will power 30,000 homes per year,” Smith maintained.
“ESB Networks now have the money and they must carry at least 70% of the cost of grid upgrades to facilitate farmers and businesses who want to adopt renewable technologies and export surplus generation to the grid,” he added.
Improved access for micro-generators will have to be prioritised if farmers and small businesses are to benefit from the €750m investment in the national electricity grid announced in the budget.
The investment was welcomed by the Micro-Renewable Energy Federation (MREF), but the industry body cautioned that access to the grid remains the key issue for farmers.
“The grid investment allocation announced in the budget by Minister Jack Chambers must prioritise access to the electricity grid for farmers and businesses engaged in micro-generation of renewable power so that they can export power for payment,” said MREF chair Pat Smith.
MREF fears that restricted grid access could delay or block farmer investment in micro-generating projects, putting a serious brake on the conversion to renewables.
“Grid constraints have become a major issue in some counties, including Donegal, and it is critical that the capital investment in the grid announced recently deals with these issues completely,” Smith added.
Grants available
The MREF chair also called on Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan to revisit the grants available to support domestic solar PV installations and battery storage to ensure that planned reductions in grants for solar PV are reversed and that grants for battery storage are reintroduced without delay.
It is estimated that there is almost 500MW of micro-generation capacity connected to the national grid. This includes around 110,000 homes connected to date, with this figure forecast to increase by around 40,000 per year.
Farmers need priority access to the electricity grid for renewable power generated on farm.
Close to 1,250 small businesses are connected under the mini generation scheme, with this figure expected to increase by 1,500 per year.
In addition, around 200 larger companies are currently plugged into the network under the Small-scale Connection Scheme, with this figure expected to grow rapidly.
“All of these homes and companies will use a significant portion of the energy generated themselves, so it would be a fair to say that a third of the total generated or around 150MW is exported to the grid. That will power 30,000 homes per year,” Smith maintained.
“ESB Networks now have the money and they must carry at least 70% of the cost of grid upgrades to facilitate farmers and businesses who want to adopt renewable technologies and export surplus generation to the grid,” he added.
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