Micro Renewable - Exemptions
The Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government has published amendments to the Exempted Development Provisions of the Planning & Development Regulations 2001, in respect of micro-renewables for domestic use. The exemptions are a welcome guide to the inclusion of renewable energy technologies, and will greatly assist building proposes and planners alike. The exemptions will apply to:-
- Solar thermal panels, up to 12 m2 (with conditions)
- Solar PV panels up to 12 m2 (with conditions)
- Heat Pumps, various types (with conditions)
- Small Wind turbines & masts (with conditions)
- Biomass boilers & storage facilities (with conditions)
Further details can be found on the publications page or from the Departments website www.environ.ie
N.B. Exemption from planning does NOT excuse you from the proper design and installation of micro renewable equipment, and in particular from very strict technical requirements for the installation of electrical micro generation equipment. The Limerick Clare Energy Agency would like to draw your attention to these requirements and recommends that you comply fully with them.
- A competent person should accurately size the micro renewable installation, contributing to the thermal or electrical requirements of the building.
- A competent person should install the micro renewable equipment, storage equipment and controls. Connections to the buildings electrical system must comply with the latest standards of the Electro Technical Council of Ireland (ECTI).
- Where such micro electricity generation equipment may be connected to the Electricity Supply Grid (directly or indirectly), connections to and from the building electrical system must comply with the latest standards of the Electro Technical Council of Ireland, and comply with the interface protection settings of the G10 standard (Annex A of EN50438).
- A license (permission) will be required to export electricity to the public grid, even if you are exporting it free of charge.
- Failure to comply with the technical regulations outlined above could endanger the life of electrical repair persons, and may expose you to sever financial penalty.
