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Homeowners could receive grants to include solar panels on their property this year, Minister Naughten told the Renewable Energy Summit in Dublin this Wednesday.
"It is my intention to open a grant aided pilot scheme this summer for solar PV microgeneration, targeted initially at self-consumption and for domestic properties," he said.
"This will be the first phase in a multi-phased implementation of supports for microgeneration in Ireland."
Joint chairman of the Micro-Renewable Energy Federation, Pat Smith welcomed the announcement and encouraged the minister to extend the pilot scheme to business and farmers.
While Minister Naughten re-stated the Government's position that micro-generation is "complicated" to manage and will not be included in upcoming mainstream renewable energy support schemes, he added that he expects a new EU directive to instruct member states to pay for electricity generated by small-scale producers soon.
Ring fenced funding for community projects
Acknowledging over 1,250 submissions received to the recent public consultation on the larger-scale Renewable Energy Support Scheme, Minister Naughten said he expected to receive a final design for the scheme by Easter and bring it to Government for approval.
"What is particularly significant for me is that there will be a separate, ring fenced community category to provide opportunities for communities and citizens to take part in renewable electricity projects," he said, hinting at options for groups of farmers to access support.
The minister also said that options to encourage the injection of biomethane from anaerobic digestors into the national gas network would be included in this year's budgetary process, opening a potential new market for farm by-products.
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