Electricity from Renewables inc REFIT and AER

A copy of the Application Form and terms and conditions of REFIT may be viewed at the attached link. View terms and conditions for REFIT I

Clarifications to the market on REFIT I based on representative queries submitted.
View clarifications
Additional Clarifications for REFIT I


Refit 1 (Reference Price Indexation - Section 5.1 of the Terms and Conditions)

Section 5.2 of the Refit 1 Terms and Conditions provided for adjustments to the reference prices in section 5.1 (i) Large Scale Wind category (ii) Small Scale Wind category (iii) Hydro (iv) Biomass Landfill Gas (v) Other Biomass.

Adjustments are by way of indexation annually, by the annual increase, if any, in the consumer price index in Ireland. The resulting reference prices for 2009 and 2010 per megawatt hour are provided for information below.

In May 2010 a revised set of tariffs for the biomass combustion, Anaerobic Digestion and biomass CHP were announced.

The Tariffs are as follows:

AD CHP ≤500 kW €150/MWh

AD CHP >500 kW €130/MWh

AD (non CHP) ≤500kW €110/MWh

AD (non CHP) >500kW €100/MWh

Biomass CHP ≤1500kW €140/MWh

Biomass CHP >1500kW €120/MWh

Biomass Combustion (including co-firing in existing plant*[subject to a change in the Refit terms and conditions to permit this]):

For using energy crops €95/MWh

For all other biomass €85/MWh

(Limited to 30% of the maximum rated capacity co-firing in any plant until 2017, 40% between 2017 and 2019, and 50% thereafter.) These tariffs will be indexed to CPI and offered on a 15 year basis. CHP utilising biomethane, displaced from the source of biomethane, will qualify for REFIT on that portion of the fuel mix deriving from bioenergy.

REFIT II - Additional Categories - Planned Terms & Conditions (Sept 09)

The planned Terms of Conditions of the following REFIT II - Additional Categories (September 2009) relate to support for the construction of renewable energy powered electricity in additional categories (biomass/anaerobic digestion CHP, ocean energy [wave and tidal] and offshore wind.)

Please note that these planned Terms and Conditions are not yet final as they are subject to state aids clearance which has yet to be obtained from the European Commission (paragraph 1.4 refers.) An announcement on the Department's website will be made in due course following this process regarding dates for submission of applications under REFIT II (see paragraph 1.5.)

REFIT II - Additional Categories

Documents relating to State Aid No. 571/2006 (REFIT I scheme refers)

The original Refit scheme was notified under EU state aid rules. The European Commission Decision granting clearance issued in September 2007 (link below.)

Notification by Ireland

• Notification Document
• Part I Published Terms and Conditions
• Part I S39
• Part III Supplementary Information on Environmental Protection Aid
• Query 1 from EC 27 October 2006
• Response from Department 31 January 2007
• Query 2 from EC 30 March 2007
• Response from Department 23 April 2007
• Submission 3 May 2007
• Submission 4 July 2007
• Submission 13 September 2007
• Commission Decision 25 September 2007
• Request for Access to Documents from EC 25 September 2008
  
  
  Relief for investment in renewable energy generation – Section 486B, Tax Consolidation Act (TCA) 1997

1. Section 62 Finance Act 1998 provided for a scheme of tax relief for corporate investments in certain renewable energy projects. The Section came into operation as Section 486B, TCA 1997, with effect from 18 March 1999. Since then, the scheme has been periodically extended to 31 December 2011.

2. The relief applies to corporate equity investments in certain renewable energy generation projects. The relief is given in the form of a deduction from a company’s profits for its direct investment in new ordinary shares in a qualifying renewable energy company.

3. To qualify for this relief, the energy project must be in the solar, wind, hydro or biomass technology categories, and must be approved by the Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources.

4. The relief is capped at the lesser of 50% of all capital expenditure (excluding lands), net of grants or €9.525 million for a single project. Investment by a company or group is capped at €12.7 million per annum, and unless the shares are held for at least 5 years by the corporate investor, the relief “shall” be withdrawn (Section 486B (6) (b) refers).

Guidelines and Application Form (Tax relief - Section 486B)

SI 68 of 2009

Alternative Energy Requirement (AER) Programme

• AER Programme and profile of AER I - VI Competitions
• AER VI Winners (July 2003) (Excel)
• AER Reserve list (August 2003) (Excel)
• AER VI - Minister announces further support (13 Dec 2004)
• AER V/VI competitions - Clarification of procedures for grants of extensions beyond time deadlines (30 June 2004)
• AER V Bid Price bands
• AER V and VI Update and details of AER VI bid prices (Updated February 2005)
• Clarification of clause 2.19 of the AER VI competition notes

Renewable Energy Generating Plant statistics

• Renewable Energy Generating Plant statistics (Excel) (updated June 2005)

Wind Energy

Wind Energy Information

Information on Ireland's digitised Wind Atlas