EU Solar Days - Solar Energy in Ireland
Paul Dykes SEAI REIO
Johnstown Castle, Wexford
Wednesday May 11th 2011
SEAI
– Ireland’s Statutory Authority on All Energy Issues
– SEAI Renewable Energy Information Office created in 1995
– REIO - established to promote the use of renewable resources and
provide independent information and advice on the financial, social
and technical issues relating to renewable energy development.
– Technical expertise in wind, micro-generation, bioenergy and
renewable energy in buildings
– 2004 Awarded Best European RE Agency by the European
Commission
Ireland’s solar resource
Irish Solar Resource
Average Solar Irradiation :
• Between 2.5 and 3 kWh/m2per day
• 910 – 1100 kWh/m2 per year
An area the size of a football pitch would :
receive the energy equivalent of 2,500
litres of oil per day!
Or enough energy to power a 60W
Lightbulb continuously for 46 years!
Average solar radiation on 1m 2
in N Europe – surface inclined
at 30o degrees, in kWh/m2.day
EU Comparison
9%
44%
<< 5%
Solar
Resource
Comparison
+ 26% + 6%
IE - ES IE - DE
Sources : www.estif.org (Market share statistics – EU27 + CH ) / http://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvgis
Solar Thermal – Where are we now?
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Greener Homes Scheme (suspended)
ReHeat (closed, December 2010)
Installation base increased significantly since 2006
Large supplier base
Quality assurance for installers
Increased experience across domestic and commercial sectors
Building Regulations
Information / advice available but issues still exist :
– Lack of understanding for a portion of buyers
– Low-impact installations (where insufficient water usage lead to
long investment return and lower carbon savings per year)
Solar Thermal : Statistics (historic)
DOMESTIC
Year
Installed (m2) Cumulative
2002
4,210
2003
5,602
2004
7,597
2005
12,597
2006
14,997
2007
33,947
2008
76,258
2009
117,630
2010/11
250,000
COMMERCIAL
Year
Installed (m2) Cumulative
2006
900
2007
921
2008
2198
2009
3,339
2010
4,059
Greener Homes Scheme – Phases l,ll,lll
Solar PV – Current Situation
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Relatively small installed capacity (c/w thermal solar)
Small number of installers / suppliers (c/w thermal solar)
Micro-generation field trial installation monitoring
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Current Incentives for PV :
– ACA (Accelerated Capital Allowance Scheme)
– ESB Networks / ESB CS export payment (max 19c/kWh)
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Relatively low priority given to PV in Irish energy policy
– Industry agrees that extra incentive is needed
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Research and Development : Significant research strengths.
Solar PV : Statistics (historic)
County
Installed capacity (W)
Carlow
1840
Cavan
1350
Clare
3450
Cork
28210
Donegal
8898
Dublin
72830
Galway
15555
Kerry
8600
Kildare
21730
Leitrim
2000
Limerick
16520
Longford
6000
Louth
5200
Mayo
7300
Roscommon
2400
Sligo
2980
Tipperary
9870
Waterford
16600
Westmeath
1900
Wexford
14380
• 261 kWp (micro) – connected and
metered.
• Between 750 kWp and 1000 kWp
installed approximately (domestic
and commercial)
Status report available on the
Microgeneration section of the
SEAI website.
Solar PV : Opportunities
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Technology is relatively expensive, but costs improving
Grid connection / storage considerations
Can “Auto-produce” electricity on-site (if good daytime base-demand
exists)
Solar research and development
Universities
Key Irish Industry
UCD
SEAI Solar Resources
Solar Thermal Benefits : Online Calculators
Inputs :
• Location, orientation, inclination,
• no. of people
• primary fuel
Outputs :
• Basic calculation : collector
area and cylinder size
• Simple payback period
• Carbon Savings
PV Benefits : Online Calculators
Inputs :
• Location, orientation, inclination,
• Annual demand & profile
• Costs
Outputs :
• Simple payback period
• Carbon Savings
Triple E product register
Triple E Products Register
• Register of exemplar energy efficient products based on
stringent criteria
• Register of approved product installers for specific
programmes
Ø Energy efficiency private and public sector procurement
benchmark.
Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA)
• Tax incentive for specific energy efficient products listed on
the Triple E Products Register.
What is the ACA?
• It’s a tax incentive (not a grant!) introduced in the 2008
Finance Act and available until 2014
• Specifically for companies paying corporation tax.
• Write-off 100% of eligible equipment cost against profit in the
first year (normally over 8 years).
Important:
ACA tax incentive is not claimed through SEAI
Triple E online
www.seai.ie/TripleE
On your CD…..
Solar PV best practice guide
Solar Thermal Procurement
guidelines
Thank you
Paul Dykes
E pauld@reio.ie
T + 353 23 8863393