Micro-Generation Support Scheme
What Is The Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS)?
The Micro-Generation Support Scheme (MSS) will begin in Q3 of 2022. The scheme is open to all homes constructed before 2021. A minimum BER rating is no longer required. The scheme would provide up to €2400 in grants for solar panel installation to homeowners, farms, businesses, schools, and community buildings.
Households must install a 4kW system to qualify for the entire €2400 grant. The €2400 grant is also available to businesses, farms, and community buildings for a system up to 5.9kW.
Clean Export Guarantee tariff (CEG)
The scheme also announced the introduction of the Clean Export Guarantee tariff for homeowners and businesses in which they will receive a competitive market rate from their suppliers for any electricity exported to the grid. Customers will be allowed to receive €200 from their electricity supplier tax free as a result of exporting electricity to the gird.
Clean Export Premium (CEP)
If farms, businesses and community buildings have a system between 6-50Kw they will qualify for the Clean Export Premium (CEP) for a period of 15 years. The CEP will be €0.135kWh in 2022 and will reduce by €0.01 from 2024 and each year thereafter. The volume of electricity eligible for CEP will be capped at 80% of the system’s generation ability.
| Year Of Microgen System Installation | Domestic/Non-Domestic <6kW System | Large Non- Domestic 6kW-50kW System | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum SEAI Grant Amount | Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) Tariff | Clean Export Premium (CEP) Tariff €/kWh | |
| 2022 | €2400 | Competitive Market Rate (CEG) Available To All Micro-Generators | €0.135 |
| 2023 | €2400 | €0.135 | |
| 2024 | €2100 | €0.125 | |
| 2025 | €1800 | €0.115 | |
| 2026 | €1500 | €0.105 | |
| 2027 | €1200 | €0.095 | |
| 2028 | €900 | Competitive Market Rate (CEG) Available To All Micro-Generators For New Installations From This Point On |
The Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff represents the first phase of a comprehensive enabling framework for micro-and small-scale generators in Ireland. It will allow them to receive remuneration from their electricity supplier for all excess renewable electricity exported to the grid. The price paid (per kWh) will be a competitive market rate from their electricity supplier.
Following a public consultation, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published a decision on an interim enabling framework for the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) on 1 December. The paper is available here . This decision outlines the interim arrangements for the implementation of the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG), including eligibility criteria and the remuneration methodology. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) has decided upon a competitive market-based approach to the setting of this tariff, as well as a number of provisions to ensure that its implementation aligns with the National Smart Metering Programme.
The Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) will be available to both new and existing micro- and small-scale generators up to 400kW, subject to the eligibility criteria established by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU).
The Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) will become available upon the transposition of Article 21 of the recast Renewable Energy Directive into Irish law. This is expected to be complete before the end of the year. It will be available to both new and existing micro- and small-scale generators who fulfil the eligibility criteria, as determined by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU).
The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is not setting a date or deadline for the timing of the first payment. You can expect an initial payment or credit from your suppliers within a reasonable time after June 2022. The CRU has asked suppliers to communicate their decision on when initial Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) payments will be made – at the earliest opportunity.
The supplier may offer back-payments in the form of a credit to your account, if this approach is considered to be the most appropriate. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) also expects back-payments to be communicated clearly to customers of each supplier.
A tax disregard of €200 was introduced in Budget 2021 in respect of personal income received by households who sell residual renewable electricity, which they generate, back to the grid. This is to allow domestic users have the small amount of revenue that they will earn from micro-generation exempted from tax without placing a burden in front of such citizens in taking steps to help us all in our carbon emission reduction targets. The measure represents an important incentive to citizens who will be integral to the energy transition in the decades ahead.
The second phase of the enabling framework will see supports for new installations in the form of a capital grant for domestic and small non-domestic applicants, or a premium export tariff for larger non-domestic applicants.
- Grant amounts will be €900/kW up to 2kW and an additional €300/kW between 2kW and 4kW in 2022. The maximum total grant in 2022 will be €2,400 – in line with existing SEAI Solar PV grant rates
- The maximum grant will reduce by €300 on a pro rata basis from 2024 and each year thereafter
- The Clean Export Premium (CEP) tariff will be €0.135/kWh in 2022 and will reduce by €0.01 from 2024 and each year thereafter
- The Clean Export Premium (CEP) will be offered at a fixed rate for 15 years, and eligible volumes will be capped at 80% of generation capacity to encourage self-consumption
- The Clean Export Premium (CEP) will be paid by suppliers. The difference between the wholesale market rate (Clean Export Guarantee) and the Clean Export Premium (CEP) will be funded by the Public Service Obligation (PSO). It is expected that Clean Export Premium (CEP) supports for new installations, installed from 2028 on, will be phased out
- Capital grants are available for domestic applicants. Capital grants are available for on-domestic applicants for installations up to 5.9kW
- Homes built pre-2021 are eligible
- Buildings will not have to meet a minimum BER (Building Energy Rating) standard, even after any new equipment is installed, to be included in the Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS)
- The Clean Export Premium (CEP) is available to non-domestic applicants for installations from 6kW to 50kW
The capital grants are a continuation of the existing grants from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) for domestic applicants, which will transition into the Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) grant from January 2021. Applications can be made at the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) website (Solar Electricity PV Grants | Home Energy Grants | SEAI). The third phase of the enabling framework will see the extension of the grant scheme to non-domestic applicants up to 5.9kW in the Summer of 2022. This will be administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
Call KRDC Electrical today and we can discuss!
SEAI Grants for Solar Panels ireland
SEAI are offering solar panel grants for solar PV system installation on your home. There is currently a solar panel grant of €1,800 – €3,000 for solar panel (Solar PV) and battery installs to reduce installation cost and solar pv system cost.
Get in touch today with KRDC and we will happily guide you through the grant application for your Solar Panels Ireland.
