Consultation on Community Benefit Funds (CBF) under the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme

An integral part of the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS), that aims to provide support to renewable electricity projects in Ireland, is the requirement to establish a Community Benefit Fund (CBF) to be used in the interest of the community in proximity of the project. The contribution is set at €2/MWh.

The aim of the RESS Community Benefit Fund is to ensure that local communities hosting renewable projects benefit from Ireland’s energy transition. Both local communities and generators may take advantage of a framework that encourages and facilitates a productive relationship.

The requirement for further guidance on the establishment and operation of CBFs was recognised, notwithstanding the basic mandatory guidelines governing the operation of the funds set out in each specific RESS auction’s Terms and Conditions. Accordingly, a first Good Practice Principles Handbook was published by the Department in 2021, providing additional guidance to the Funds' stakeholders.

Since then, the first projects supported by the first RESS auction (RESS 1) have reached commercial operation, and the first CBFs have been registered and have started funding local projects in their local areas.

The experience gained through the establishment of the first CBFs has provided an opportunity to reflect on the learnings, successes and challenges associated with establishing CBFs. It is therefore appropriate to now hold a public consultation to gather feedback from all stakeholders with the aim of publishing a new CBF Rulebook with updated guidance and modifying the RESS 5 Terms and Conditions from the RESS 4 Terms and Conditions.

We have developed a number of proposals, taking on board lessons learned since the first CBFs commencing operation and previous feedback received from different stakeholders. The aim of the consultation is to receive stakeholder feedback on these proposed aspects of the Terms and Conditions and the introduction of a new CBF Rulebook which seek to ensure a clearer and more effective delivery of the Community Benefit Funds under RESS.

The Department held a stakeholder information event on the CBF under RESS Consultation on 5 February 2025.

The event, which was held in hybrid format online and in-person at the Department's headquarters in Dublin, sought input from stakeholders on proposed aspects of the Community Benefit Funds under RESS. The session included a presentation from the Department and a question-and-answer session. The presentation, as well as a summary of the Q&A session, are included below.

Given the impact of Storm Éowyn on areas potentially affected by the outcomes of this consultation, the Department is extending the closing date to 5.30pm on Friday, 7 March 2025.

The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications will host a hybrid stakeholder engagement event in support of the consultation. It will be possible to attend online or in-person in the Department's headquarters in Tom Johnson House, Haddington Road, D04 K7X4 on Wednesday, 5 February 2025. Given that places are limited, attendees are required to register their attendance using the following links:

Online registration here

In-person registration here

If you require a sign language interpreter for this event, please email us at CBFConsultation@decc.gov.ie

The aim of this targeted consultation is to gather stakeholder feedback on the proposed modifications in the Community Benefit Funds under RESS, which includes potential changes in the Terms and Conditions for RESS 5 from the RESS 4 Terms and Conditions, as well as the introduction of a new CBF Rulebook.

We will host a stakeholder workshop in hybrid format – in-person and online, during the consultation period. Details of this event will be published in early 2025.

The government has set a target of generating 80% of our electricity from renewable sources by 2030, including a specific target of 9 GW onshore wind and 8 GW solar capacity. One of the Government’s main mechanisms to meet these targets is the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS), characterised by a series of competitive auctions held since 2020.

As part of the Terms and Conditions of RESS, generators must establish a Community Benefit Fund to be used in the interest of the community in proximity to the project. The aim of the RESS Community Benefit Fund is to ensure that local communities hosting renewable projects benefit from Ireland's energy transition.

The Consultation Document is available for download below.

The closing date for submissions has been extended to 5.30pm on Friday, 7 March 2025

Submissions should be sent by email to CBFConsultation@decc.gov.ie or by post to:

CBF Consultation

Renewable Electricity Division

Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications

Tom Johnson House

Haddington Road

Dublin 4

D04 K7X4

We are committed to engaging with stakeholders in a clear, open and transparent manner. Any person or organisation can make a submission in relation to this consultation. We will consider all submissions and feedback before we publish the final versions of the RESS 5 Terms and Conditions and the Community Benefit Funds under RESS Rulebook.

Your response to this consultation is subject to:

• the Freedom of Information Act 2014 (FOI)
• the Access to Information on the Environment Regulations 2007-2018 (AIE)
• the Data Protection Act 2018

Publishing of responses

The department will carefully consider all comments and suggestions received and will publish a consultation response. Given the expected volume and the variety of comments, the department does not intend to respond to individual submissions but will group responses and provide an overall response to each consultation topic.

We will redact (remove) personal data before publication.

Please indicate any sensitive information

In responding to this consultation, clearly indicate where your response contains any information which you would not wish to be released under FOI, AIE or otherwise published. This can include:

• personal information
• commercially sensitive information
• confidential information

Read our Data Privacy Notice

We would like to draw your attention to our Data Privacy Notice which explains:

• how and when we collect personal data
• why we do so
• how we treat this information
• your rights in relation to the collection of personal information
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