Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS)

The Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) begins this quarter.

Homeowners, farms, SME’s, schools, sports and community organisations will be able to avail of the MSS as a measure to contribute towards Ireland’s climate targets for 2030.

The overall total for the Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) is a modest 380 MW of installed solar power on an estimated 70,000 buildings in Ireland. This number includes your local GAA club and sports clubs in general, your local school, your community centre, your workplace as well as your home.

To place this 380 MW in context, we should mention that Germany managed to deploy almost 550 MW of solar PV … in May 2022. Therefore, Ireland’s total solar ambition under the MSS, amounts to about 3 weeks work in Germany.

The combined efforts achieved under the MSS are to be considered as part of the 2.5 GW apportioned to solar power under the Climate Action Plan.

While these targets lack ambition, the good news is that just about anyone who embraces solar PV has the chance to avail of the Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) in one way or another.

If you have solar PV you will either qualify for the CEG or the CEP feed-in tariffs later this year.

Clean Export Guarantee (CEG)

The Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) is being applied mainly to homeowners, small business, and other organisations, that install a small amount of solar PV, up to 5.9 kW.

Homeowners can still avail of the SEAI grant towards their installation and also receive the CEG or (feed-in tariff) from their electricity supplier. The rate is being set later this year through a process with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU).

In addition, the SEAI grant is now payable for renewable microgeneration on schools, sports clubs, community buildings, farms and businesses as well as homes. The power limit for this new SEAI grant is capped at 5.9 kW.

Clean Export Premium (CEP)

The Clean Export Premium (CEP) is payable for systems between 6 kW and 50 kW. The mechanism for this is being introduced later this year.

According to the SEAI … “Projects between 6kW and 50kW will receive a Clean Export Premium (CEP) tariff per kWh exported, for a period of 15 years, from their electricity supplier. The Clean Export Premium (CEP) will be €0.135/kWh in 2022, which is higher than the current average wholesale electricity price.”

Difference between the CEP tariff and wholesale electricity prices will be supported by the PSO levy. The amount of eligible electricity that can be exported is to be capped at 80% of generation capacity under the Clean Export Premium (CEP) – supposedly to encourage self-consumption.

While the payments are modest when at the lower end of the power spectrum, ie < 6 kW, with the CEP being introduced this quarter, it’s best to act quickly. Incentives under the MSS are flagged to be phased out from 2028 … so you have a few precious years in which to benefit.

Install your solar PV panels today!

Contact us if you are ready to avail of the feed-in tariffs today, and allow us to ensure you get paid the top rate on the Clean Export Premium!

If you are involved in your local school, community group, or sports club, remind your fellow members that you too can avail of both the SEAI grant and the feed-in tariffs, for your school, community group, club, farm or business – in addition to your home.