Terms and Conditions for the fourth onshore competition under the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS 4)

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:

• increasing Ireland’s energy security, energy sustainability and ensuring the cost effectiveness of energy policy
• increasing technology diversity by broadening the renewable electricity technology mix
• delivering an ambitious renewable electricity policy to 2030
• meeting the electricity sector’s carbon budget programme whilst also shielding consumers from high and volatile fossil fuel prices and ensure long term benefits to communities from renewable energy

Renewable electricity generation is a central element of our action on climate disruption and delivering a ‘renewables revolution’ as set out in the Programme for Government.

The fourth onshore RESS auction, RESS 4, will be an important contribution towards Ireland’s 2030 renewable electricity target of 80% as set out in Climate Action Plan 2023. CAP23 set a target of 9 GW of onshore wind, 8 GW of solar and at least 5 GW of offshore wind by 2030. The Climate Action Plan 2024, which was published in December 2023, set out revised sectoral emission targets consistent with the carbon budgets for the period 2021-2025 and 2026-2030. Delivery of the fourth onshore RESS auction, RESS 4, is one of the key actions for the second carbon budget period (2026-2030) and will therefore represent an important contribution towards Ireland’s 2030 renewable electricity targets.

The RESS 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 and increase Ireland’s energy security.

The Programme for Government commits to holding 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.

We have developed the high-level design for the fourth Onshore RESS, taking on board lessons learned from RESS 3. It is intended to refine the Terms and Conditions developed for RESS 3 with a limited and specific set of changes for RESS 4.

The aim of the targeted consultation is to receive stakeholder feedback on these proposed aspects of the Terms and Conditions which may impede the efficient and cost-effective delivery of renewable electricity projects under RESS 4.

The aim of this targeted consultation is to gather stakeholder feedback on the proposed Terms and Conditions for RESS 4, which includes some specific changes from the RESS 3 Terms and Conditions.

The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) provides support to renewable electricity projects in Ireland and aims to promote the generation of electricity from renewable sources. RESS is one of the flagship Government policies to support the delivery of the target set out in the Climate Action Plan to meet 80% of electricity demand with renewable energy by 2030.

In order to increase wind and solar generation on the grid, we are delivering a regular programme of auctions under the RESS, of which RESS 4 is the latest, each scheme helps us deliver on our objectives as set out in the Climate Action Plan.

We held a public stakeholder information event on the RESS 4 Terms and Conditions on Monday 25 March 2024.

The event, which was held in person in Dublin, sought input from stakeholders on aspects of the proposed RESS 4 Terms and Conditions. It included presentations from the Department and the auction administrator, and a question and answer session.

The closing date for submissions has been extended to 5.30pm 28 March 2024

Submissions should be sent by email to RESS4Consultation@DECC.gov.ie or by post to:

RESS 4 Consultation

Renewable Electricity Division

Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications

29/31 Adelaide Road

Dublin

D02 X285

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 4 Terms and Conditions.

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.

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• personal information
• commercially sensitive information
• confidential information

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