Renewable Electricity Support Scheme 1 (RESS 1)

The Minister developed the RESS as a successor to REFIT, with the first RESS (RESS 1) auction held in 2020. RESS was established to drive Ireland towards achieving its ambitious renewable electricity targets, as outlined in the Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan.

The RESS is a competitive auction-based scheme which invites renewable electricity projects to bid for capacity and receive a guaranteed price for the electricity they generate for a maximum of 16 years.

Projects seeking RESS support must satisfy the qualification conditions for the scheme, which include having planning permission and being a grid contracted project.

The RESS supports the growth of green economy, creates stable jobs, and saves consumers money as renewable energy becomes cheaper.

Ireland’s strategy places a renewables-led electricity system at its core, aiming to significantly cut emissions, strengthen energy security, and safeguard economic competitiveness. Initiatives such as RESS are essential to achieving these goals.

The RESS 1 Auction opened on 21 July and closed on the 28 July 2020. The final results were approved by Government on 8 September 2020.

Out of the 109 applicants that were deemed to meet the eligibility criteria, 82 projects were successful in the auction, applicants consisted of both onshore wind and solar projects.

RESS 1 Auction Results

• 82 projects were successful in the auction
• 63 out of the 82 projects were solar
• 19 out of the 82 projects were onshore wind
• The successful projects total offer quantity was 1,275 Megawatts (MW)
• The solar offer quantity was 796 MW
• The onshore wind offer quantity was 479 MW
• There were 7 successful community projects in RESS 1.
  

The RESS 1 Final Auction results are available on the EirGrid website.

The RESS 1 Terms and Conditions and the RESS Investment Scheme Supplementary Note are available below.

All RESS 1 projects were required to establish a CBF. The CBFs are financed by mandatory financial contributions made by renewable energy projects participating in the scheme. The funds are used to support local initiatives and provide payments to households located near the projects.

The mandatory contribution is set at a minimum of €2 per Megawatt hour (MWh) of electricity generated by the RESS project. This ensures that real, measurable funds are allocated annually to support and benefit the local community.

Examples of projects and initiatives that have received funding through CBFs include scholarships, community centres, energy upgrades in sports clubs and community centres, education programmes and disability access projects.

For more information on CBFs under RESS please click here.

The Department prepares a Public Service Obligation (PSO) Levy Statutory Instrument (SI) annually, which includes lists of renewable energy (REFIT, RESS & SRESS) projects entitled to receive support payments. Once the SI is approved and finalised, it is published in the Irish Statute Book.

The PSO SI containing the first RESS 1 projects can be accessed below.

S.I. No. 532/2021 - Electricity Regulation Act 1999 (Public Service Obligations) (Amendment) Order 2021

For further information on the PSO levy please click here.

Please click here for further information on the RESS 1 Consultation.

Minister Bruton publishes terms and conditions for Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) First Auction

Minister Ryan announces the provisional results of the first Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) auction

Minister Ryan opens first grid-scale solar project to connect to the national grid under the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS)

Stakeholder Briefing (Nov 2019)

Project Update - January 2020

Industry Briefing (Sept 2019) RESS-1 Auction Design and Implementation Project