The Micro-Renewable Energy Federation (www.mref.ie) has called on the Government to increase the supports available for solar PV installations for homes, farms and businesses by at least 25% to empower everyone to take practical actions to counter the emerging energy crisis.
Ciaran Kells, Chairman of MREF, said that the evolving situation in the Middle East and the choking-off of oil and gas shipments via the Strait of Hormuz, have the potential to challenge every sector of the Irish Economy like never before. He said the Irish Government needs to act now with immediate supports including higher grants for micro-generation.
He said: “Increasing grant supports for micro-generation and battery energy storage would be a very constructive move to empower all sectors of our economy to adopt renewable energy and help the country deal with the significant energy challenges ahead, including the fallout across energy markets from conflict in the Middle East.”
Mr. Kells said that the recent move by the Minister for Agriculture, Martin Heydon TD, to reject 90% of applications from farmers for a TAMS solar PV grant is impossible to understand in light of the energy crisis facing the Irish economy.
“Farmers are facing crippling cost increases as fertiliser and other costs escalate due to the Middle East conflict. The Government needs to urgently review this decision and, at a minimum, accept all renewable energy applications under TAMS made in the last two tranches,” he said.
Mr. Kells said that battery storage also has huge potential to help balance available energy generation and use. “Homes businesses and farms should be encouraged to adopt battery technology and the case for grant support was never stronger,” he said.
He called on the Government to introduce attractive grant support for battery storage and increased support for solar PV micro generation as part of a comprehensive response to very serious energy crisis the country faces.
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