Payment for home-produced electricity given warm welcome

THERE was warm welcome for the announcement by Energy Minister Eamon Ryan that householders and farmers will be paid by the Electricity Supply Board for any surplus electricity that they generate from wind turbines, photovoltaic panels or other alternative energy source.

One such householder is Quentin Gargan, founder of Turbotricity, a company that makes wind turbines for the home market.

He started developing a prototype because, as the owner of an electric Citroen Berlingo, he wanted to power it from a home source.

“Up to now, households with a wind turbine had to use a large bank of forklift batteries to store their power, involving additional costs and maintenance.

“It makes far more sense to sell surplus power to the grid and buy back extra energy when it is needed.”

Mr Ryan announced that a householder with their own renewable energy system will be paid 19 cents per kilowatt hour for any energy they produce but don’t need.

“We are changing the rules and changing the nature of electricity generation in Ireland. Before, you received your power from a central source and paid for it. Now you can generate for yourself and be paid for the excess you don’t use. This competitive feed-in tariff will apply to the first 4,000 micro-generation installations countrywide over the next three years. Eligible installations include small-scale wind, photovoltaic, hydro and combined heat and power,” Mr Ryan said.

The minister also announced that an improved connection policy by ESB Networks to ensure faster connection to the grid and new grant assistance for trailing of prototypes for the domestic arena.

New planning exemptions were also announced for small-scale generation from low-carbon sources exempt from planning permission.

The Department of Energy said the scheme should boost the rural economy, putting more money into consumers’ pockets.

“All our farms and houses can be micro-generators. We can use our abundant natural resources to bolster the economy, create green-collar jobs and reduce carbon emissions at the same time.

“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,” he said.

Seamus Boland, chief executive of the campaign for sustainable rural communities, Irish Rural Link, said the proposals “are a welcome opportunity for rural dwellers, particularly as electricity standing charges are higher in rural areas than urban ones”.

“The threat of a carbon tax in the next budget, a tax shown by the ESRI to be disproportionately harsh on rural dwellers, means this development is positive but more measures are needed before the introduction of a carbon tax can even be contemplated.”