Microgenerators generate clean, renewable energy to meet some or all of the electricity demands of a household or business. When coupled with a diverter, this renewable energy can heat a water tank.

The Government Microgeneration Support Scheme is now available so that those with a registered microgeneration device can sell any excess electricity back to Ireland’s electricity grid.

This will help businesses reduce their carbon footprint and save money.

The Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) is the payment businesses will receive when they sell their “microgeneration” excess electricity back to the national grid. In the context of grid connection, “microgeneration” relates to capacities in the range 0 – 6 kW for single phase electrical connections, and in the range 0 – 11 kW for three phase connections.

Electric Ireland customers who own a micro-generator such as solar PV, micro-wind, micro-hydro, or renewable micro-CHP are eligible for this scheme. You must have an export grid connection recognised by ESB Networks. This is typically organised by the installer on installation or can be organised through ESB Networks.
In addition, you must have a smart meter installed where technically possible.

Where possible, a smart meter is required to avail of microgeneration payments. Smart meters can measure the profile of demand at your business and thereby allow you to maximise your self-consumption. Smart meters can also measure the export of microgeneration installations to facilitate access to remuneration for residual electricity exported to the grid.

If you have a microgenerator installed, such as solar PV, ESB Networks will submit a connection form on your behalf. This form will inform us at Electric Ireland that you have a registered microgeneration device and ESB Networks will install a smart meter for you if you do not already have one.

If, for any reason, you cannot have a smart meter installed in your business, you will receive estimated payments based on the size of your installed microgeneration device.

If you have microgen such as solar PV and a standard 24hr smart meter, ESB Networks have prioritised you for smart meter installation and they will be in touch shortly. Unfortunately, we cannot provide detail on a timeline.

Yes. If you have a day/night meter it is not scheduled for replacement with smart meter at this time, however you will still receive a deemed estimate based on the size of your installation and this will be back dated to either February 15, 2022 or the time your microgeneration system was installed with the correct NC6 form submitted.

Only Electric Ireland customers who meet the criteria above are eligible for the Microgeneration Scheme through Electric Ireland.  For more information on being an Electric Ireland Business customer, please visit our home page.

Solar PV panels use the sun's energy to convert daylight into renewable energy. The electricity is then consumed within the premise, reducing your need to buy energy from a supplier. When a Solar PV system produces more energy than a business needs, the extra energy can go to your immersion heater. Solar PV is not to be confused with Solar Thermal - while Solar Thermal heats water only, Solar PV gives you free electricity and hot water.

Most customers install solar PV on their roof, however they can be installed anywhere on your property where there is sufficient open space and good sun exposure.

It’s likely that your PV installer submitted a connection form on your behalf. Once the form is processed, we are made aware that you have a microgeneration system at your property. We will contact all of our customers who we know to have microgeneration in early 2024. If you did not hear from us it's possible that a connection form has not been submitted for your microgenerator and you will need to contact your installer or ESB Networks for advice.

The connection form and associated information is available on ESB Networks website.

Your first payment will be a backdated payment made in the form of a credit on your electricity bill.

Please note that Electric Ireland endeavours to issue microgeneration payments to our business customers in early 2024. We appreciate our customer’s patience, and we are working to issue these payments as soon as we can.

All payments will be backdated to either 15th February 2022, or your registration date if later.