Minister O’Brien welcomes extension of Solar PV Scheme for Medically Vulnerable Customers

Free solar panel systems for people dependent on life-protecting medical equipment and technology
 
Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien today welcomed the extension of eligibility for the Solar PV Scheme for Medically Vulnerable Customers, to include all homeowners who are registered under the life support category of the Priority Services Register with their energy supplier. These homes have a dependence on electrically-powered equipment, including medical equipment, life protecting devices and assistive technologies such as dialysis machines and respirators.
 
The Solar PV Scheme for Medically Vulnerable Customers is a targeted initiative – designed to support the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels in households registered under the life support category of the Priority Services Register.
 
Initially launched as a pilot in 2022 as a response to energy sector challenges arising from the war in Ukraine, the scheme was agreed for households on the life support category of the Priority Services Register specifically maintained by ESB Networks at that time.
 
Some 470 homes have benefitted from the scheme to date and the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment expects that figure to grow significantly, now that the scheme is in the process of being extended (to include eligible homeowners registered under the life support category of the Priority Services Register with their energy supplier, regardless of when they were registered).
 
 Welcoming the development, Minister O’Brien said:
 
“Delivering resilience in our energy systems is a top priority for me, and for the Government. First and foremost we have to ensure that the most vulnerable in society are protected. I am pleased to announce that, due to the strong uptake and the positive impact already observed in over 470 homes, eligibility for the Solar PV Scheme for Medically Vulnerable Customers is now being extended to include all homeowners who are registered under the life support category of the Priority Services Register, with whichever energy supplier they are using.”
 
Energy suppliers will communicate this update to eligible customers in the coming weeks and months, as the eligibility criteria are revised and qualifying homeowners are identified to benefit from the scheme.