Dublin: The Irish government is expanding the Small Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS) to allow farms, businesses, and community groups to produce and sell electricity. This initiative supports Ireland’s solar energy strategy, aiming for 5 gigawatts of solar power by 2025 and 8 gigawatts by 2030. Currently, the country has less than 1 gigawatt of solar power.
SRESS enables participants to generate electricity, mainly from solar panels, and sell it back to the National Grid. The scheme now includes agricultural lands, schools, shops, and community centers, allowing them to install between 125 and 12,500 solar panels, producing 50 kilowatts to 6 megawatts of electricity.
The government guarantees payments for the electricity generated, with rates set at €80 per megawatt for wind power and €120 for solar power for farms and businesses. Community groups receive €90 and €140, respectively. If market prices are lower, the government will cover the difference.
Detailed terms and conditions will be published in July, and applications will open by the end of the year. This expansion aims to boost Ireland’s renewable energy production and help achieve the goal of generating 80 percent of electricity from renewables by 2030.