media release
Wind Farmers Conference – Out-of-touch policy needs urgent reform
IWFA Member says “Ireland’s community wind energy sector has been set back five years.”
[28.11.24] Members of the Irish Wind Farmers Association (IWFA) attending its Annual Conference today, Thursday, November 28th, voiced their concern at the slow progress of community wind energy schemes in Ireland due to bureaucratic policies.The IWFA welcomes the proposed Small Renewable Energy Support Scheme (SRESS) but itd is calling on the new Government to be proactive and properly support Ireland’s small onshore wind energy sector –
1.Remove the bureaucracy and simplify the regulatory processes, both timeline and cost, to allow communities and small enterprises to engage more easily in renewable energy projects.
2. Bring the proposed tariffs for wind projects in line with the 20 per cent top up provided to solar projects.
3. Reduce the 100% community ownership stipulation in the Small Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS) to facilitate community led partnerships with experienced developers. Revert to 51% community led projects model.
The announcement by the Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) in February 2021, mandating that community category projects under the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) be 100% community owned made the challenges of locally owned wind farms significantly more difficult according to the IWFA.
“That decision has set back the progress of onshore and wind community initiatives by at least five years,” a spokesperson for the IWFA, Pat Blount, commented at today’s annual conference, “It makes sense for locally owned wind farms to partner with experienced developers and make the transition to a locally owned models viable, rather than relying solely on larger scale developers or multinationals. Without reform to the regulations there is a high risk of not achieving the 500MW target for 2030.” He concluded.
The strict requirements and planning mire have rendered the development of onshore community projects nearly impossible, exacerbated by a lower price tariff than large RESS for wind.
IWFA members are urging the Government to launch the Small Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS) scheme. However, IWFA members fear that the anticipated scheme will struggle to stimulate the renewable energy sector due to the strict regulations.
Paddy Phelan, Chair of the IWFA Council, stated, “With over 120 representatives at our Annual Conference, it’s evident that there is a strong desire for the development of small onshore wind projects, which is crucial for Ireland’s energy independence as we move towards Net Zero electricity system. As demonstrated by our speakers today, local farmers like Michael Quirk in Cork and Tom Ryan from Wicklow, renewable energy can succeed in our communities, the proposed SRESS supports shows green shoots to become more accessible and practical for all but remains unviable to communities and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with the level of support proposed for wind projects.”
Jim Breslin, Renewable Energy Ireland Chair was the keynote speaker. He commented, “The transition to clean and affordable energy requires strong collaboration across Government, public bodies, the private sector and communities. The sector looks forward to engaging intensively with the new Government on how this transition can be effectively accelerated as a key part of climate, cost of living and competitiveness objectives”
The IWFA Annual Conference brought 120 people from across wind farmers, community groups and SMEs together at the Lyrath Estate Convention Centre. SRESS, the planning process, grids and markets were discussed.
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