Renewable Electricity Support Scheme 2 (RESS 2)

Following the success of RESS 1, the Minister launched the second Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS 2). The RESS 2 Auction, held in 2022, represented a significant step toward achieving Ireland’s target of generating at least 80% of its electricity from renewable sources.

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 2 Auction opened on 29 April and closed on the 09 May 2022.

Out of the 130 applicants that were deemed to meet the eligibility criteria, 80 projects were successful in the auction, applicants consisted of both onshore wind and solar projects.

RESS 2 Auction Results

• 80 projects were successful in the auction
• 66 out of the 80 projects were solar
• 14 out of the 80 projects were onshore wind
• The successful projects total offer quantity was 1,948.20 Megawatts (MW)
• The solar offer quantity was 1,534.10 MW
• The onshore wind offer quantity was 414.10 MW
• There were 10 successful community projects in RESS 2.

For further information on the RESS 2 Final Auction results please visit the EirGrid website.

The RESS 2 Terms and Conditions are available below.

In 2023, the Minister became aware of exceptional circumstances which were affecting the ability of RESS 2 projects to meet the remaining Milestone Completion Dates.

Accordingly, the Minister decided to amend the RESS 2 Terms and Conditions to extend the remaining Milestone Completion Dates.

The ‘Supplementary Note in Relation to Alterations to the RESS 2 Milestone Completion Dates’, as below, was published setting out full details of the changes applied to the RESS 2 Milestones.

Notwithstanding these amendments, all RESS 2 projects must continue to refer to and comply with the RESS 2 Terms and Conditions as published above.

All RESS 2 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 2 projects can be accessed below.

S.I. No. 377/2024 - Electricity Regulation Act 1999 (Public Service Obligations) (Amendment) (No. 1) Order 2024

For further information on the PSO levy please click here.

For further information see the RESS 2 Consultation webpage.

Minister Ryan announces launch of second Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS 2)

Major acceleration of renewables (wind, solar) and community energy as provisional results of second Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) auction announced