Community Benefit Funds (CBF) under the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme: consultation open until 7th March 2025
An integral part of the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS), that aims to provide support to renewable electricity projects in Ireland, is the requirement to establish a Community Benefit Fund (CBF) to be used in the interest of the community in proximity of the project. The contribution is set at €2/MWh.
The aim of the RESS Community Benefit Fund is to ensure that local communities hosting renewable projects benefit from Ireland’s energy transition. Both local communities and generators may take advantage of a framework that encourages and facilitates a productive relationship.
The requirement for further guidance on the establishment and operation of CBFs was recognised, notwithstanding the basic mandatory guidelines governing the operation of the funds set out in each specific RESS auction’s Terms and Conditions. Accordingly, a first Good Practice Principles Handbook was published by the Department in 2021, providing additional guidance to the Funds’ stakeholders.
Since then, the first projects supported by the first RESS auction (RESS 1) have reached commercial operation, and the first CBFs have been registered and have started funding local projects in their local areas.
The experience gained through the establishment of the first CBFs has provided an opportunity to reflect on the learnings, successes and challenges associated with establishing CBFs. It is therefore appropriate to now hold a public consultation to gather feedback from all stakeholders with the aim of publishing a new CBF Rulebook with updated guidance and modifying the RESS 5 Terms and Conditions from the RESS 4 Terms and Conditions.
We have developed a number of proposals, taking on board lessons learned since the first CBFs commencing operation and previous feedback received from different stakeholders. The aim of the consultation is to receive stakeholder feedback on these proposed aspects of the Terms and Conditions and the introduction of a new CBF Rulebook which seek to ensure a clearer and more effective delivery of the Community Benefit Funds under RESS.
The aim of this targeted consultation is to gather stakeholder feedback on the proposed modifications in the Community Benefit Funds under RESS, which includes potential changes in the Terms and Conditions for RESS 5 from the RESS 4 Terms and Conditions, as well as the introduction of a new CBF Rulebook.
We will host a stakeholder workshop in hybrid format – in-person and online, during the consultation period. Details of this event will be published in early 2025.
The closing date for submissions has been extended to 5.30pm on Friday, 7 March 2025
Consultation documentation:
Community Benefit Funds under the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme – Consultation Document: Download or View
Community Benefit Funds under RESS Stakeholder Event Presentation: Download or View
How to make a submission
Submissions should be sent
- by email to CBFConsultation@decc.gov.ie
- or by post to CBF Consultation, Renewable Electricity Division, Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, Tom Johnson House. Haddington Road, Dublin 4, D04 K7X4
