Consultation on the second onshore Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS 2) auction design and implementation

The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) provides support to renewable electricity projects in Ireland. With a primary focus on cost effectiveness, the RESS delivers a broader range of policy objectives, including:

• providing an Enabling Framework for Community Participation through the provision of pathways and supports for communities to participate in renewable energy projects
• increasing technology diversity by broadening the renewable electricity technology mix
• delivering an ambitious renewable electricity policy to 2030
• increasing energy security, energy sustainability and ensuring the cost effectiveness of energy policy

Renewable electricity is a central element of our action on climate disruption and delivering a ‘renewables revolution’ as set out in the Programme for Government. The RESS 2 auction will be a major step in meeting the ambition set out in the Programme for Government of at least 70% renewable electricity by 2030. It will also support the achievement of the increased ambition set out under the Climate Action Bill and the policies and measures in the Climate Action Plan 2021. The RESS Scheme ensures that we are on a pathway to meet our ambitious climate targets and lays the foundations of a thriving and cost effective renewable electricity market. This will support the growth of the green economy, create sustainable work opportunities, and ultimately benefit the consumer as renewables become more cost effective.

The Programme for Government commits to hold RESS auctions at frequent intervals throughout the lifetime of the scheme. This will allow Ireland to take advantage of falling technology costs and avoid 'locking in' higher costs for consumers.

The aim of this consultation is to gather feedback on key aspects of the scheme and to guide the final design of RESS 2.

The closing date for submissions is 5.30pm 20 August 2021

We have notified the members of the RESS Mailing List about this consultation, if you wish to be included on this list and register your interest in the RESS auctions, please contact ress@decc.gov.ie. We will also be notifying this group when the RESS 2 scheme is finalised.

Submissions should be sent by email to RESS2Consultation@decc.gov.ie or by post to:

RESS 2 Consultation

Electricity Policy Division

Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications

29-31 Adelaide Road, Dublin, D02 X285

We believe that increased participation by citizens in renewable electricity projects will bring about significant support for climate action as citizens become personally invested in their delivery. We are continuing to investigate opportunities to deliver on these investment opportunities and to further develop the overall package of community participation and benefits in line with Ireland’s climate ambitions to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and deliver on the European Green Deal.

As committed to in the RESS High Level Design and further underlined in the Programme for Government, it is critical that communities are given the opportunity to invest in renewable energy projects. Therefore, it is intended that RESS 2 will include a form of citizen/community investment.

We are continuing to work on the development of Citizen Investment options. Once sufficiently developed, the details will be published and a standalone consultation opened to enable stakeholders to have their say on the scheme.

The initial auction timetable for the RESS 2 competition will be published by EirGrid in their role as auction operator. This timetable may be subject to change pending development, consultation and decision on citizen investment measures in RESS 2.

Following due consideration in the development of the Final RESS 2 Terms and Conditions, no mandatory citizen investment requirement has been included.

We held a public stakeholder information event on the RESS 2 Terms and Conditions on 19 July 2021.

The event, which was held virtually, sought input from stakeholders on aspects of the Terms and Conditions which may affect project deliverability. The event involved presentations from DECC and our advisors. A question and answer session followed.

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. All submissions and feedback will be considered before the final version of the Terms and Conditions of the RESS 2 scheme is published.

Please note that responses to this consultation are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2014 (FOI), Access to Information on the Environment Regulations 2007-2014 (AIE) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Please also note that the Department intends to publish the contents of all submissions received to this consultation on its website. The Department will redact personal data prior to publication. In responding to this consultation, parties should clearly indicate where their responses contain personal information, commercially sensitive information or confidential information which they would not wish to be released under FOI, AIE or otherwise published.

We would like to draw your attention to the Department's Data Privacy Notice which is available on our website and explains how and when we collect personal data, why we do so and how we treat this information. It also explains your rights in relation to the collection of personal information and how you can exercise those rights.

61 submissions were received as part of the consultation. This feedback has been reviewed by our Department, and minor edits have been made to the Terms and Conditions to address these comments.

The Consultation Response Notice provides an overview of key amendments and considerations in the Terms and Conditions.

Read more on Renewable Electricity Support Scheme 2 (RESS 2)