The Irish Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten, T.D. received Government approval for the new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS). The new Scheme aims to introduce sufficient renewable electricity generation to meet national and EU-wide renewable energy and decarbonisation targets out to 2030.
RESS will also deliver energy policy objectives including: enhancing security of supply; diversifying the renewable technology mix; and increasing community participation in and benefit from renewable energy projects.
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Announcing the new Scheme the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten noted:
This Scheme will mark a shift from guaranteed fixed prices for renewable generators to a more market-oriented mechanism (auctions) where the cost of support will be determined by competitive bidding between renewable generators.
The key points of the new Scheme can be summarized as following:
Community Participation
- A Community-led category and community capacity building measures will provide opportunities for communities to contribute in Ireland’s renewable energy transition.
- Projects looking for support under the new RESS will need to meet pre-qualification criteria including offering the community opportunity to invest in renewable projects in their local area. A national register of community benefit payments will also be established.
- RESS includes an in-depth study of international best practice, across Denmark, Germany, Canada and Scotland.
Increasing Technology Diversity
The new Scheme will help realise Ireland’s policy of enhancing security of supply and broadening the renewable energy mix.
Delivering Ireland’s contribution to renewable electricity targets out to 2030 and close the gap on 2020 renewable electricity targets
RESS will deliver Ireland’s contribution towards an EU-wide renewable energy target of 32%, out to 2030, within a competitive auction-based, cost effective framework. The scheme is based on the context of Ireland’s effort to meet it’s 2020 renewable energy targets and the European Union’s Clean Energy Package.
Renewable Electricity Auctions
- RESS auctions will be held throughout the lifetime of the scheme.
- The Scheme will provide for a renewable electricity (RES-E) ambition of up to a maximum of 55% by 2030.
- RESS auctions will be designed according to trajectory targets. The first RESS auction in 2019 will deliver ready projects, reducing the gap to 2020. RESS auctions will also help in the early delivery to 2030.
For further information, see the PDF below
