ESB Customer Services last December proposed an interim tariff for microgenerators up to 11kw of 9 cents per kw hr. The details can be viewed on the
CER site and the Commissioner for Energy Regulation has invited submissions by the close of business today.
In Northern Ireland the feed-in tariff is 7.4p sterling per KwHr and that a further 4.5p is paid for Renewable Obligations Certificates (ROCs) whereby the carbon credited is purchased for all energy produced by the wind turbine (including electricity used by the customers themselves).
By comparison, 9 cents is a pretty derisory offer but it is possible that if enough applications are received, then the CER will increase this figure.
So go submit! There are other points of interest;
1) This is only slightly higher than the 7.5c rate paid to large wind farms
2) There is already a 12c feed-in tariff for offshore power. Micro generators should be regarded as an early-stage technology and supported in the same way
3) Unlike wind farms and other generation systems, micro-generators do not create a requirement to expand the grid because their electricity is produced and used locally.
4) Ireland could be a leading innovator in micro wind power, but there must be attractive feed-in tariffs to support this.
5) Other countries such as Spain and Germany pay as much as 45c to 50c per kw hr for electricity to support the development of solar photovoltaic or other industries.
I'm sure you'll have a few more ideas on this...
The announcement by ESB is a move in the right direction, but could be and should be improved on if small scale domestic and hydro power is to catch on in Ireland.
