The Micro-Renewable Energy Federation (MREF) is calling on the Minister for Education, Helen McEntee TD, to urgently review the Schools Solar PV Programme to ensure that it delivers the maximum benefit for schools, taxpayers, and the environment.
MREF fully supports the Government’s initiative to install solar panels on schools. However, the current scheme includes terms and conditions that unnecessarily restrict its effectiveness and ability to make a meaningful contribution to the current and future energy needs of most schools with clean, renewable power. Specifically, an arbitrary generation cap of 6kWp is based on misguided information as most schools have a micro-generation cap of 11kWp imposed by the grid operator and could accommodate significantly larger solar PV systems without additional grid connection costs.
Micro-Renewable Energy Federation Chairperson, Ciaran Kells, says: “MREF has repeatedly sought to discuss critical technical issues around the schools PV scheme with the Department of Education. However, despite our efforts to date, the Department has so far failed to acknowledge or address these concerns. This is resulting in sub-optimal PV installations on schools and rapid obsolesce of the systems that are being installed – which is completely unnecessary and wasteful.”
Mr. Kells said that additional funding is not required or being sought to fix these issues with the current Schools PV Scheme. Relatively minor revisions to the current scheme’s wording to allow schools to maximise their renewable energy potential within their existing budgets.
He said: “Schools should have the flexibility to install systems that meet their energy needs both now and in the future, without being forced into premature obsolescence due to overly rigid scheme conditions. The current restrictions risk turning what should be a transformative initiative into a missed opportunity. Schools can and should be local renewable energy hubs, providing long-term savings and sustainability benefits to their communities.”
“We are urging Minister McEntee and her Department officials to engage with MREF as to resolve these issues. The success of the Schools Solar PV Programme depends on getting it right from the start,” he concluded.
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