Renewable Electricity Support Scheme 3 (RESS 3)

Building on RESS 1 and RESS 2 auctions, the Minister launched the third Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS 3) in 2023 to further support the delivery of renewable electricity and progress Ireland toward its climate and energy targets.

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 16.5 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 3 Auction opened on 08 September and closed on the 15 September 2023.

Out of the 33 applicants that were deemed to meet the eligibility criteria, 23 projects were successful in the auction, applicants consisted of both onshore wind and solar projects.

RESS 3 Auction Results

• 23 projects were successful in the auction
• 20 out of the 23 projects were solar
• 3 out of the 23 projects were onshore wind
• The successful projects total offer quantity was 646 Megawatts (MW)
• The solar offer quantity was 497.60 MW
• The onshore wind offer quantity was 148.40 MW

For further information on the RESS 3 Final Auction results please click here.

Following the publication of the RESS 3 Terms and Conditions, a revised edition which included some minor amendments was published. The revised Terms and Conditions are available below.

Please note the Revised RESS 3 Terms and Conditions now supersede the originally published RESS 3 Terms and Conditions.

The Minister has become aware of exceptional circumstances affecting the ability of RESS 3 Projects to meet the remaining Milestone Completion Dates in 2024. Issues identified included but were not limited to: grid reinforcement delays by the electricity system operators (EirGrid and ESB Networks); significant increases in lead time in obtaining critical materials needed to develop grid connections for renewable electricity projects; and system operator grid outage availability.

Accordingly, the Minister decided to alter the Terms and Conditions to extend the Milestone Completion Dates. The extended deadlines apply to each RESS 3 Project to the extent it had not already achieved the relevant Milestone at the time of publication.

Notwithstanding the amendments made by the Supplementary Note, all RESS 3 projects must continue to refer to and comply with the Revised RESS 3 Terms and Conditions as published above.

The RESS 3 Stakeholder Information and Summary of Amendments to Terms & Conditions outlines key information for stakeholders along with a summary of the amendments that have been made to the original RESS 3 Terms and Conditions, which are also available below.

All RESS 3 projects are 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 3 projects can be accessed below.

S.I. No. 756/2024 - Electricity Regulation Act 1999 (Public Service Obligations) (Amendment) (No.2) Order 2024

For further information on the PSO levy please click here.

Please click here for further information on the RESS 3 Consultation.

Minister Ryan announces launch of third onshore Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS 3)

Minister Ryan welcomes continued acceleration of renewables as provisional results of third RESS auction announced