Sinn Féin is calling on the Minister for Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources to pay more attention to solar power.

Spokesperson on Energy and the Environment, Brian Stanley, said that while wind, biomass, anaerobic digestion, hydro and biogas all receive feed tariffs, solar does not.

Deputy Stanley said: "Under the public service obligation, the current projection is that nearly 3,000 MW of renewable energy will receive €335 million in support in 2016-2017 while only 250 MW of fossil fuel will receive €140 million. The fossil fuel industry benefitted from a huge €386 million in subsidies in 2015.

-- Advertisement --

"When one considers these figures, it is €11,000 per megawatt for renewable power and €56,000 per megawatt for fossil fuel, five times as much per megawatt. It is a technology that is most suited to community and local participation with small ownership by local individual farmers or co-operatives.

"Solar power is an area that has not received enough attention from the Government or the Department in the past and we hope to see this change under the tenure of the new Minister."

(CD/JP)