Drawn from a range of sectors and government departments, Ireland’s National Mitigation Plan outlined a pathway towards decarbonisation for the first time in the country’s history. The document, published in 2017, highlighted a sharp decline in costs of solar photovoltaic (PV) globally, with increased levels of solar and microgeneration technologies offering further contributions to Ireland’s renewable energy portfolio. The Government’s recently announced Climate Action Plan and the €3.7 million pledged to supporting the installation of solar panels in homes has seen Ireland further commit to the cultivation of domestic solar power.
The National Mitigation Plan also confirmed that the prices of such technology will see a continued global decline in price. Regardless of this decline, it is generally accepted that the use of solar technology in Ireland is less efficient than, for example, in southern Europe, where solar penetration is stronger. Indeed, wind has traditionally been the most cost-competitive renewable electricity technology in Ireland, accounting for 85 per cent of Ireland’s renewable electricity and 30 per cent of total electricity demand in 2018. Ireland ranked third worldwide for wind energy use, behind Denmark and Uruguay, in 2018.
Despite this, it is recognised that other energy sources, such as solar, will play an important role in the future decarbonised energy mix. The deployment of solar technology in Ireland is intended to diversify the country’s renewable generation portfolio over a 10-year period between 2020 and 2030, with a particular focus on cost efficiency and effectiveness. The convenience of solar PV, which can be deployed in roof-mounted or ground-mounted installations, has been highlighted as a means of empowering the Irish citizen to take control and ownership over energy production and consumption. The recently announced Climate Action Plan contains provisions that allow citizens to sell such privately microgenerated solar power back to the national grid. This scheme will be rolled out nationwide in 2021.
The benefits of solar PV to Ireland’s energy mix have been recognised by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (DCCAE), who have adopted the technology as a component of the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) which was published in July 2018. The scheme will provide support to renewable energy projects in Ireland, whilst increasing energy security and sustainability. The Government’s objective of diversifying Ireland’s energy mix may play to the advantage of the solar sector at first auction, as it seeks to ramp up investment in nascent technologies.
Financial support is currently available for solar thermal heating technology through grants offered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). SMEs and large industry can each benefit from these grants. Similarly, households can also avail of grant support for solar thermal under the Better Energy Homes Scheme. Domestic solar thermal systems are designed to meet 50-60 per cent of a household’s hot water requirement across the year. The SEAI have approved 375,000 applications for the Better Energy Homes Scheme since its inception.
Supporting solar in Ireland
Support has also been offered by the SEAI in the form of a Residential Rooftop Solar PV Scheme, which was announced in August 2018. The scheme provides a contribution of up to €3,800 towards total installation costs and has been highlighted as a measure which would bring more jobs to Ireland’s growing solar sector. The SEAI have argued that such a strategy will encourage self-consumption towards 100 per cent, whilst enhancing public understanding and uptake of solar.
Similarly, the Warmer Home Energy scheme offers a broad range of measures free to householders in need of energy efficiency upgrades, totalling to an average of €3,000. Some of the measures included in the scheme are attic and cavity wall insulation; draught proofing; lagging jackets and low energy light bulbs.
ESB Networks recorded over 500 applications for the installation 