Energy Policy

4. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment when he will finalise the review and approval for sale and use of plug-in photovoltaic (PIPV) solar panels in Ireland. [78605/26]

For the past year, I have been raising with the Minister the potential for people living in apartments and renting properties to be able to purchase a plug-in solar scheme and benefit from low-cost electricity. I have been asking the Minister to move quickly to remove the barriers in Ireland that prevent the quick adaptation of this technology, like we have seen in Germany. When does the Minister expect Irish households will be able to benefit from low-cost electricity through plug-in solar?

The Deputy has raised this before, and I have discussed this as well. Plug-in solar is an emerging, low-carbon technology and we are committed to accelerating its introduction into Ireland. I want to be clear about that. Once enabled, it could provide a cost-effective and accessible way for customers to participate more effectively in our energy system, with potential benefits including lower electricity bills, greater demand flexibility and increased support for Ireland's renewable and climate objectives. At my request, ESB Networks established a plug-in solar working group in May 2026 to examine pathways for safe, standardised and scalable deployment of the technology. To date, the group has met nine times. The working group recently submitted an options report to my Department, setting out recommendations on matters including installation approaches, product specifications and customer guidance. In parallel to that, we are working with stakeholders to progress elements of the regulatory framework. Planned next steps include an Ireland-specific safety assessment, legislative review, development of a product specification, publication of detailed customer guidance and the establishment of an online product registration portal. Further work is required to ensure the technology can be deployed safely, which is what we want, and that it is supported by an appropriate regulatory framework, with any legal barriers addressed. We are currently progressing the safety assessment and the legislative review, both of which will conclude this year. Product standards are a matter for the NSAI and ESB Networks is responsible for registration arrangements. While delivery timeframes will depend on the work of these stakeholders, we are committed to working closely to expedite them. To give the Deputy an idea of a timeframe, I am aiming for the end of quarter 2 next year. We need the regulatory and safety assessments completed. This will be a game-changer, particularly for those multi-unit developments and apartments where it can be more difficult to get multiple owners to agree to rooftop solar. The timeframe is the end of quarter 2 next year, subject to the regulatory piece being done because we want it deployed safely. There is real opportunity in this regard. We are going to do it.

I am glad the Minister is recognising that plug-in solar should be an option for Irish households. It could be big for people who are renting and unable to get an SEAI grant because they do not own the house, as well as for those living in apartments. I am glad he acknowledged that we are behind in our roll-out of this compared to other European countries. I appreciate that he provided the end of quarter 2 as the date. That is useful. However, I am trying to understand how some of the big pieces of work the Minister set out are going to be done in that scale of time. I agree that the technology has to be correct and safe, but what kind of timeframe are we looking at for an Ireland-specific safety study to be carried out? How long is that going to take? A legislative review was also mentioned. A legislative review means pushing something well down the tracks. How can the Minister ensure and provide clarity that will be delivered in time so that Irish households will be benefiting from plug-in solar in quarter 2 of next year, as he said?

Let us look at examples. I do not think we are way behind. Britain approved plug-in solar in August 2026, but very little plug-in solar has actually been deployed in Britain because it did not do a lot of the regulatory work. To give the Deputy assurance on this, the working group has met nine times since July. That is not us trying to delay anything at all. There are real opportunities in this regard, particularly for multi-unit developments. I live in one such development, so I can see how this will make a massive difference for people in apartments and that type of thing. It is also cheap. It will make a difference. Plug-in solar is not as powerful as normal solar PV panels, but it is not intended to replace them. It is simply an addition. ESB Networks, to be fair, has carried out substantial work on this. I am aiming for all of this work to be concluded by the end of quarter two next year so that people can purchase it. The SEAI has fed into this as well. There are real opportunities here. The legislative review is not a way of delaying this. I do not want this delayed. I want it in place as soon as possible.

As the Minister said, Britain has put in those approvals and I have no doubt we will see the take-up of units across that country. Britain began its process in February. The contrast in speed between Britain and Ireland in this regard is what concerns me. The Minister has provided a clear timeframe of the end of quarter 2 2027. I will continue to engage with the Minister to ensure the legislative review moves quickly. What are the key pieces of legislation that need to be assessed for the successful roll-out of plug-in solar? Has the Minister given any consideration to the SEAI providing grants and support for plug-in solar? Is he considering that, or does he consider the cost accessible enough already? This is an opportunity to bring the benefits of low-cost electricity to people who cannot currently enjoy it. We have to do everything we can to speed that up and make it available to as many families as possible.

We have just short of 200,000 households in the country with solar panels. We have over 1 GW of rooftop solar in the country and it is accelerating at a rate not seen before. People are responding to it. They understand it. With regard to plug-in solar, the Deputy referenced Britain and how it just took from February to August there, but I ask him to have a look at how much plug-in solar has been deployed. It is very little. It put the cart before the horse. We want to get this right. I want to have it in place by the end of quarter two where people can actually go and purchase these units. We have got to make sure that the internal wiring and electricity infrastructure is safe for this to happen. The Deputy knows that as well. Cost wise, it will be between €500 and €1,000. The need for grant aid may not be as distinct as it is for other schemes. We will look at it, however, particularly for low-income households, social housing and apartments. It could be deployed in a very cost-effective way. It is a legislative review. I do not envisage that we will need primary legislation. That is not what I am talking about. It might also be useful for the committee, at the appropriate time, to have a look at this. I am aiming for the end of quarter 2 2027 to get this in place so people can purchase plug-in solar.