Updates

Electricity Regulation Act 1999 (Public Service Obligations) (Amendment) (No. 1) Order 2024

  • Legal

Jurisdiction: Republic of Ireland

Commencement: 30th July 2024

Amends: Electricity Regulation Act 1999 (Public Service Obligations) Order 2002

Mini Summary

The Electricity Regulation Act 1999 (together with its associated orders) allows for the introduction of a renewable energy incentive scheme. The Renewable Feed-In Tariff (REFIT) scheme operates by guaranteeing new renewable generation a minimum price for electricity exported to the grid over a 15-year period. The scheme is funded through the Public Service Obligations charged to all electricity consumers set out in the Act.

Duties

The REFIT scheme is operated in 3 parts.

REFIT 1

This part was announced in 2006 and ran up until the end of 2009 for new applicants. Projects supported here included wind turbines, hydroelectricity and landfill gas.

REFIT 2

This covers small and large-scale onshore wind turbines, biomass, landfill gas and small hydroelectricity (less than 5MW (megawatts)). To be eligible for REFIT 2, the various requirements set out in the terms and conditions must be fulfilled. These requirements include:

  • proof of planning permission;
  • grid connection; and
  • the application must relate to new plants neither fully commissioned nor operational on 1st January 2010.

REFIT 3

This part supports certain biomass-related REFIT categories as follows.

  • A total of 50MW of anaerobic digestion* (AD), including Combined Heat and Power (CHP).
  • 100MW of Biomass CHP (non-AD).
  • 160MW of biomass combustion and co-firing.

*Anaerobic digestion is the process by which organic matter, such as animal or food waste, is broken down to produce biogas and biofertiliser.

All projects are supported with this guaranteed tariff for 15 years. This period commences when the electricity supplier purchases electricity from the plant of the generator.

Further information can be found on the Department of Communications, Climate Action & Environment website.

Amendment

Schedule 3, Schedule 4, Schedule 5 and Schedule 6 have been replaced. This is to update the lists of renewable energy projects in both the Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff Scheme and the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme.

There are no changes to duties for organisations.

Link to full government text

 

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