Electricity Generation

Our Role in Granting Licences

The CRU grants, monitors, modifies, revokes and enforces electricity generation authorisations and licences. This role is set out in the Electricity Regulation Act 1999, as amended.

Types of licences and authorisations

• A Licence to Generate allows a person to generate electricity.
• An Authorisation to Construct or Reconstruct allows a person to construct or reconstruct a generating station.

View existing

Licence Holders – Authorisation to Construct or Reconstruct

Licence Holders – License to Generate

How to apply

Pre-submission meeting

We recommend pre-submission meetings for new applicants or applicants with novel or complex applications.

At this meeting, the CRU will set out the application and assessment process. We will also answer your questions after you have reviewed the guidance notes and application forms.

Email us to set up a pre-submission meeting: licensing@cru.ie

*Please note that as of 7th September 2022, SIs 383 and 384 of 2008 have been revoked and replaced with SIs 459 and 460 of 2022. These implement a new notification process for generating stations with an installed capacity greater than 1 MW but not exceeding 10 MW. The Guidance notes have been updated to reflect this new process, and the Notification form can be found at the links below

RED III Applications

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) has introduced revised arrangements for renewable energy projects seeking an Authorisation to Construct and Licence to Generate under the Renewable Energy Directive III (RED III).

RED III aims to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy projects across the EU through streamlined permit-granting procedures and specified permitting timelines. The revised CRU arrangements apply to onshore renewable energy projects located outside Renewables Acceleration Areas (RAAs) and enable applicants to progress CRU licensing activities alongside planning and grid connection processes within the overall 24-month RED III timeline.

Applicants seeking to avail of the RED III permitting framework should note the following key features of the CRU's RED III Authorisation and Licence arrangements:

• Applications for an Authorisation and Licence may be submitted once a planning permission application has been confirmed as complete and a grid connection offer has been received.
• CRU assessments will run in parallel with planning and grid connection processes.
• Final CRU decisions will continue to require evidence of final planning permission (or planning exemption) and a signed connection agreement.
• Projects with an installed capacity of less than or equal to 1 MW are exempt from the need to apply to the CRU for an Authorisation and Licence.

The RED III Notification and Dual Application forms can be downloaded from the Applications section below. Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the RED III Guidance Note in full before submitting an application or requesting a pre-submission meeting. The document is available under the “Guidance Notes” section below. Applicants should also use the Application Checklist to ensure that all required supporting information and documentation is included at the time of submission. The Application Checklist is located at the bottom of the application form and in the appendix to the RED III Guidance Note. Incomplete applications may result in delays to assessment timelines.

Pending deployment of the CRU's digital licensing platform, all RED III applications and supporting documentation should be submitted electronically to: licensing@cru.ie

Under RED III, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has been designated as Ireland's Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for renewable energy consenting in Ireland. The SPOC is responsible for supporting applicants throughout the permit-granting process and coordinating engagement across competent authorities. Further information is available from SEAI at singlepointofcontact.seai.ie

The CRU has published the following documentation in the sections below to assist applicants in understanding the RED III permitting framework and the information required by the CRU when assessing applications:

• RED III Guidance Note - Dual Applications for Authorisation to Construct and Licence to Generate
• RED III Notification for Generators not exceeding 10 MW
• RED III Dual Application for an Authorisation and Licence above 10 MW

For licensing-related queries or to request a pre-submission meeting, please contact: licensing@cru.ie

Guidance Notes

Read the Guidance Notes before you prepare and submit your application. They will help ensure your application can be assessed efficiently. The Guidance Notes detail:

• the current estimated application assessment times
• the information and supporting documents needed for a valid application
• a useful FAQ
• a completeness check to use before submitting your application
• CRU bank details to pay fees

You can find the completeness check in Appendix I of the guidance notes. It details the information and supporting documents required for a valid application. Use this to check your application before submission.

Guidance Notes- Authorisation to Construct

Guidance Notes- Licence to Generate

Red 111 Guidance Notes - Dual Applications for Authorisation to Construct and Licence to Generate

The guidance notes are updated regularly. Applicants should always use the most recent version from the website.

Last updated: May 2022.

Application forms

To apply, select the correct form for your application. If you are applying for both a Licence and Authorisation at the same time, use a Dual application form.

Please note that application forms are updated regularly. Applicants should always use the most recent version from the website.

Last updated: May 2022.

Application fees

These are the application fees for licences and authorisations. The fee must be paid by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) at the time of submission of the application. You will find the CRU bank details in the Guidance Notes.