Minister Denis Naughten is today announcing details of a major workshop to be held tomorrow (Tuesday 17th) during Climate Action Week with key stakeholders to progress ‘micro-generation’ in Ireland.
The Workshop will:
- Plan for an energy future where citizens and businesses can produce and consume their own electricity – micro-generation
- Examine barriers to micro-generation in Ireland
- Develop a national policy position on micro-generation
On Tuesday 17th October a major workshop will be held at the Clayton Hotel in Ballsbridge, Dublin to explore opportunities to develop micro-generation of electricity in Ireland.
Announcing the workshop, Minister Naughten said: “It is opportune now to research how micro-generation of electricity becomes a natural part of Ireland’s energy landscape. To that end I am today announcing an important element of that research process – a workshop that gathers all the key players, including, and importantly community groups and individual citizens. The development of community and citizen-led energy projects is something that I feel strongly about and I believe this workshop builds on this ambition in a very meaningful way.”
Minister Naughten noted that support for the micro-generation of electricity was included in a recent economic assessment undertaken to underpin the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS), a support programme currently being developed by his Department.
The objective of the workshop, Minister Naughten said: “is to build on this economic analysis and develop a common understanding of the barriers to micro-generation in Ireland. It is only when we have this common appreciation of the main challenges that we can start to examine potential solutions to overcome them. The workshop will present an opportunity to further investigate micro-generation, taking into account the economic evidence, support options, EU policy including regulation and other constraints such as grid considerations.”
Minister Naughten added: “the Government fully appreciates and accepts the multiple benefits associated with micro-generation of electricity, both in terms of assisting on climate action and renewables targets. It also plays a significant role in increasing awareness of the benefits of renewable energy and in improving societal acceptance of renewable energy projects.”
Jim Gannon, CEO of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) said “SEAI is delighted to co-host this workshop on micro-generation with the Department of Communications, Climate Action, and Environment. From our own trials and research over the past number of years, alongside recent EU policy signalling and a dramatic reduction in technology costs, it is evident that micro-generation is becoming a more feasible option for citizens and companies. Although it remains the case that on a purely economic basis micro-generation still struggles to challenge large scale, there are indirect benefits of micro-generation that can provide additional value. The challenge faced in many jurisdictions is that the interventions that most effectively incentivise large-scale generation, may not always be effective at the micro-generation scale. In the context of the RESS, we look forward to facilitating this workshop, to explore what options exist and by what means they could be tested.”
The workshop will bring together all relevant stakeholders across a range of energy sectors including Community Groups, NGOs, Energy Suppliers, Government, Electricity Grid experts, Planners, Energy Industry Groups, Installers, Equipment Manufacturers, Farming Groups, Researches and individual citizens.
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