Thousands of Irish schools to hit the books for solar
Up to 1,600 schools in Ireland can apply from today to receive 6 kW of solar systems to be installed on their rooftops through a federally funded scheme, the Irish government recently announced.
Ireland holds firm on 8 GW of solar by 2030 target
The Irish government says it expects to meet the ambitious target of installing 8 GW of solar by the end of the decade. It says it will do this through existing measures – such as the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) and microgeneration supports – as well as a new, smaller Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS) to be launched in 2024.
Irish government allocates €380 million for residential, community grant schemes
Roughly €380 million ($403 million) has been earmarked for spending in Ireland’s residential and community grant upgrade schemes, which includes solar PV installations, according to the Irish government’s 2024 Budget. The head of the local energy association, however, cautions to pv magazine that the new budget may not be ‘quite so generous’ as it first appears.
Irish Solar Energy Association raises concerns over failure rates in renewables auctions
Conall Bolger, CEO of the Irish Solar Energy Association (ISEA), has told pv magazine that while it was ‘good’ news the Irish government favored solar PV projects in the latest renewable auction, less than half of solar PV projects selected in the first tender round of the same program would not ‘reach the finish line.’
Ireland allocates 497 MW of PV in third renewables auction
Ireland’s Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and network operator EirGrid has revealed the 20 solar projects totaling 497 MW that were provisionally selected in the latest auction round of the country’s onshore Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS). The procurement exercise concluded with an average strike price of €0.10047($0.10596)/kWh.
Ireland extends solar rebates to commercial, industrial PV
The Irish government has decided to grant rebates ranging from €2,700 ($2,930) to €162,600 for PV projects with capacities ranging from 6 kW to 1 MW under the country’s net-metering scheme.
Ireland to slash VAT on residential PV to 0%
The Irish cabinet plans to present a new measure in its finance bill this week to eliminate value-added tax (VAT) on solar products.
Irish developer secures financing to build 1.2 GW of solar
Power Capital Renewable Energy (PCRE) has secured €240 million ($259.5 million) to build 1.2 GW of solar projects across Ireland. Commercial operations are expected to start in 2025.
Ireland mulling mandatory renewables quota for heat sector by 2024
The Irish government wants to introduce an unspecified renewable energy quota for the heating sector by 2024. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) recently predicted that heat pumps could cover 20% of the country’s heating demand in 2030.
Ireland’s first PPA for large-scale solar
Allied Irish Banks will buy electricity from two solar parks that NTR is now developing. The power purchase agreement has a duration of 15 years.
