Businesses and individual householders will be encouraged to generate their own electricity using wind and solar power under a trial programme announced by the Government today.
Under the pilot grant scheme, electricity will be generated via small-scale technologies such as wind turbines and solar power, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan said.
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He said the ‘microgeneration’ programme allowed the potential to sell excess power back to the national grid.
A 50 per cent start-up grant will be made available to cover the installation costs of microgeneration systems in about 50 trials to be conducted throughout the State, the Minister said.
Speaking at the annual Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) energy show in Dublin, the Minister said: “We are starting to make great strides with large-scale renewable energy, which will impact on power generation on a national level. Today, we focus on small scale generation in commercial sites and domestic dwellings.”
Some €2 million will be provided by the department in 2008 to fund the grant scheme, which will be administered by SEI, the national energey agency. Other bodies such as the Commission for Energy Regulation, ESB Networks and electricity suppliers will also be involved.
“This scheme will empower electricity users to take action. A change in regulations last year has cleared the way for Irish people to sell electricity back to the national grid,” Mr Ryan said.
“This, along with today’s announcement and the roll-out of smart meters will ultimately mean that everyday in every home people can use power in the most efficient manner possible.
“We know from international experience that microgeneration can provide a sustainable, reliable and affordable alternative to the traditional methods of power generation. It is time to provide such an alternative here.”
Full details of the scheme will be announced in the coming months.