Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS)

RESS-2 Auction Process Nearing Completion

The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme by which the Irish Government provides financial support and encouragement to renewable energy developers in Ireland is almost finished phase two for onshore allocations (RESS-2).

The successful applicants receive government support for around 15 years, and a fixed price for any energy produced under the scheme.

The strike price for onshore RESS-2 is a shade under €98 per GWh.

You can read our previous article here, which outlines how this year will see 37 GWp solar INSTALLED across Europe. Next Year will see 42 GWp solar INSTALLED across Europe. Given the numbers we can’t help but see Ireland’s solar ambitions as minute, insufficient, and lacking political support.

RESS Auction Schedule

According to the published auction schedule we expected in the region of 3,500 Gigawatthours of new onshore renewable projects to be supported at this stage of the process. The result was almost 2,800 GWh total allocation from onshore RESS-2 which includes 1,500 GWh of solar.

Almost 1 GW (or ~1,000 GWh) of solar projects failed to qualify in this round, which is disappointing especially since the full allocation was not reached under this strand of RESS. The corollory is that almost 94% of onshore wind applicants were successful at this stage of RESS-2.

Solar energy is currently the cheapest way to produce electricity. This is a fact which the entire world appreciates (except perhaps here in Ireland).

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has recently applauded the contribution made by solar projects which are contributing 60% of renewables globally this year (but not in Ireland).

Later this year will see another installment of RESS for offshore projects where we can expect to see 10,000 GWh of new offshore wind production receiving Irish government financial support. The Irish government policy is crystal clear. Massive interest for offshore wind. Token interest in solar energy.

Last year’s LCOE study from the Fraunhofer ISE placed the cost of offshore wind at between 6.5 cents and 12 cents per kWhr – while utility-scale solar PV produces electricity for between 3 cents and 6 cents per kWhr.

Even the most expensive utility-scale solar electricity is cheaper than the cheapest offshore wind power.
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The scientific research shows that even small-scale rooftop solar PV systems (< 30 kWp) with a battery can produce electricity cheaper than offshore wind. Yes! Even in Ireland!

Contact us today if you want to avoid double subsidising offshore wind projects for large corporations – once now from the taxpayers purse and later through your utility bills.