Energia & the Microgeneration Scheme
Energia will help customers on their green journey to reduce their carbon footprint with the Microgeneration Scheme and the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) payment.
Microgeneration refers to the generation of electricity from renewable technology such as solar PV panels. This type of renewable energy generation allows domestic customers to produce their own electricity.
For microgeneration customers this will mean that any surplus electricity that is produced, customers will have the option to export this surplus to the grid and receive payment for it.
Not only will microgeneration customers be contributing to a greener Ireland by exporting surplus green energy but they will also be reducing their own electricity expenses.
Microgeneration, or Microgen, is the generation of green electricity from renewable technologies, such as solar (PV) panels, wind, hydro and other renewable technologies.
Microgenerators generate renewable energy using some or all of the above methods to meet the electricity demands of a household.
The microgeneration scheme will allow customers with registered microgeneration installations to sell any excess electricity back to Ireland’s electricity grid in return for the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) payment.
To be eligible for the scheme you must own a microgenerator such as solar PV and have an export grid connection. You need to complete an NC6 form, this may have been completed by your technician at the time of installation of the microgenerator.
Once your NC6 form is submitted to ESBN they need to notify Energia and we will set up your export account. ESBN will send us your export usage details when available and payment will show on your electricity bill.
If you do not have a smart meter at the premises you will need to get one installed by ESB Networks to get paid for what you export. Energia can request a smart meter on your behalf.
You must provide an NC6 form to ESBN.
If you refuse or have previously refused the installation of a smart meter, then you will not be eligible for a deemed export profile.
If you previously refused the installation of a smart meter and now want to avail of the scheme, you must request the installation of a smart meter, this can be done through your supplier or ESBN.
Energia can request a smart meter on your behalf.
Please note - You will only be paid from the date of installation of the smart meter.
Energia receive a notification from ESB Networks to let us know that a customer has a microgeneration installation.
We record this information on the customer’s account and will email them to let them know we have received this.
If you have submitted everything correctly to ESBN and have not heard from Energia please contact us.
For now, to avail of the Microgeneration Scheme your import and export of electricity must be from the same supplier. Sign up to Energia to avail of the scheme.
The calculation of the deemed export is based on the following factors and has been set by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU).
The following formula determines the Deemed Export Quantity:
Deemed Export Quantity= MEC x Capacity Factor x Export Factor x Provision Interval
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MEC – This will come from the NC6 form which the customer has to submit to ESBN.
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Capacity Factor – This is based on a calculation from the CRU and is set at 9.7%
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Export Factor – This is based on a calculation from the CRU and is set at 35%
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Provisional interval – This is a calculation used for solar installations that takes account of how Microgeneration works in practice during the day and from season to season.
It is important to note that you will need a smart meter to be eligible for actual metered exports.
Metered export uses the actual usage from a Smart meter.
Deemed export is an estimate of export meter when there is no actual data received.
The deemed calculation has been decided by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) with government oversight. There is no mechanism to change this amount except for the installation of a smart meter to record actual consumption and therefore the surplus generated.
Your energy provider has no role in determining this export value. Some Smart meters with poor connectivity may also receive deemed usage.
You will receive your payment on your bi-monthly electricity bill. Your export and import periods may differ, this could be due to the timing of when we receive your units frorm ESB.
Any export days not shown in line with the import period will be included in your next bill.
No, your export account will be linked to your electricity acount.
Your CEG payment will be based on the quantity of kWh you export to the grid at the rate offered by Energia. There is no published guidance for customers in relation to the VAT treatment of electricity exported to the grid by customers.
If customers have any queries in relation to their VAT or income tax compliance obligations in relation to electricity exported, they should contact the Revenue Commissioners.