Press: Solar Ireland Shares RESS 6 Perspective with pv magazine

Solar Ireland’s Policy Manager, Leanne Donovan, has spoken to pv magazine about what Ireland’s sixth Renewable Electricity Support Scheme auction means for solar project development.

RESS 6 is Ireland’s first renewables auction to incorporate the EU Net-Zero Industry Act requirements. It introduces separate auction pots for solar and onshore wind, with price accounting for 85% of each project’s score and the remaining 15% allocated to resilience and energy-system integration.

In the article, Leanne explains why Solar Ireland supported the technology-specific approach and why retaining the solar capacity factor at 11% provides a more realistic basis for projects competing in the auction.

She also discusses solar’s prospects in RESS 6. While the technology has performed strongly in previous auctions, the outcome will depend on factors including the capacity available, bid prices, financing conditions and the wider grid and regulatory environment.

As Leanne explains, the auction’s incentives for storage and hybrid projects must also be matched by reforms that allow those projects to be developed and operated effectively.

“The real test will be not only what capacity secures support, but whether those projects can be financed, connected and built,” she said.

The article explores the further changes needed to support integrated hybrid projects, including clearer arrangements for energy sharing, metering, settlement, dispatch and access to storage revenues.

Read the full article: Ireland’s sixth renewables auction puts solar to the test under new NZIA rules