Local generators can now sell electricity back to national grid
A price of 19 cent is guaranteed per kilowatt hour of electricity to the first 4,000 micro-generation installations over the next three years.
Eligible installations include small scale wind, photovoltaic, hydro and combined heat and power.
ESB Customer Supply and ESB Networks will contribute 9c and 10c respectively towards this tariff. Domestic electricity users registered with ESB will receive a full tariff of 19c/kWh. Non-ESB customers will receive a 10c/kWh tariff for any electricity sold back to the grid.
ESB Networks says it will reduce the length of time and complexity of the connection process for local generators, and Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) provides a connection information service.
Applications are being accepted by SEI for grant assistance of 40% of the cost of 50 trial units (of up to 50kW).
Small scale generation from low-carbon sources is exempt from planning permission, and planning issues surrounding renewable energy installations are being examined by the Government.
Mr Ryan said: “Every year, we send e6 billion out of this country on fossil fuels. This type of generation will help reduce this dependence and this outflow of money. We do not want to be dependent on Russia or Saudi Arabia for our energy needs; we can supply our own.”
Customers with technical queries on installing microgeneration can contact ESB Networks at 1850-372757. Further detail will be available shortly on the website, www.esb.ie/esbcustomersupply/residential.
Information on small and micro-scale pilot field trials is available from SEI at 01-8369080, or microgen@sei.ie by email (see www.sei.ie/grants/microgenpilot). Customer connection guides for micro generation are at the www.sei.ie/Publications/Renewables_Publications/consumer_microgen_brochure.pdf and www.esb.ie/esbnetworks websites.
A full guide to connecting renewable and CHP electricity generators of all sizes to the network is available at the www.sei.ie/Publications/Renewables_Publications/connecting_RE_and_chp_to_network.pdf website.
*IFA has welcomed the micro-generation announcement, but sought a capital tax allowance and a price increase of 12c per kWh.
IFA vice-president and spokesman on climate change Sean O’Leary said the guaranteed 10c for all electricity users and 19c for ESB customers fell short of international standards and discriminated against farmers and households who do not get electricity from the ESB.
He said micro-wind producers in Britain will get 20p from March, and the minister must at least match this price in Ireland, and introduce a double capital tax allowance relief up to a maximum of e50,000, and net metering.
