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IWEA welcomes REFIT II extension as critical step to 2020 EU targets

20 December, 2016

The Irish Wind Energy Association has welcomed the announcement of an extension to REFIT II connection deadline from the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Denis Naughten.

The Minister has decided to extend the required ‘connected’ date for REFIT applicants from 31 December 2017 to 31 December 2019 and extend the requirement to have a Power Purchase Agreement in place from 30 September 2018 to 31 March 2020.

The Minister also decided to extend the period for the receipt of additional information for applicants that applied to the REFIT 2 and 3 schemes before 31 December 2015 and that met the terms of the Clarification Notice. The original date for receipt of additional information was set at 31 December 2016. This is now extended to 31 December 2017.

This change will only be relevant for REFIT applicants who submitted an application to the Department before the 31 December 2015.  The scheme has not been extended and the backstop date of 2032 remains unaltered.

In response to the announcement IWEA chief executive Gary Healy commented: “The confirmation from the Minister that REFIT II is being extended, and the clarity we have now on the revised timelines, has been critical for the industry.  We very much welcome the certainty in today’s news.”

Ireland's target of energy consumption to come from renewables by 2020 is 16%.  This will be made up under three headings, each of which has their own individual target; Electricity (40%), Transport (10%) and Heat (12%).

 

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