Electricity Generation
Apply for a licence to generate electricity or authorisation to construct or reconstruct a generating station.
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*Please note that as of 7th September 2022, SIs 383 and 384 of 2008 have been revoked and replaced with SIs 459 and 460 of 2022.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
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
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.
Application Fees
| Installed Capacity of Generating Station | Authorisation to Construct | Licence to Generate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 MW to <5 MW | €35 | €35 |
| 5 MW to <15 MW | €100 | €55 |
| 15 MW to 40MW | €100 | €100 |
| >40 MW to <50 MW | €995 | €200 |
| 50 MW to <100 MW | €1,995 | €400 |
| 100 MW to <200 MW | €6,635 | €1,330 |
| 200 MW to <500 MW | €16,590 | €3,320 |
| 500 MW and greater | €19,905 | €3,980 |
Complying with your Authorisation/Licence
To comply with the conditions of your Authorisation and/or Licence, you must to submit certain information to the CRU on a regular basis.
Use these Compliance Guidance Notes to prepare compliance submissions.
Generation Licence Compliance - Guidance Note
Generation Authorisation Holders Compliance - Guidance on Progress Reports
Enforcement
A person who constructs or reconstructs a generating station without an Authorisation is liable to a fine of up to €127,000. These powers are set out in section 16 of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 as amended.
Similarly, a person who generates electricity without a Licence to do so is guilty of an offence and liable of a fine up to €1,904 or to imprisonment for a term of up to 12 months, or both. These powers are set out in S.I 445 of 2000.
Assignment or Transfer
An Assignment or Transfer of an Authorisation and/or Licence is a change in the entity holding the Authorisation to Construct or Reconstruct and/or Licence to Generate. This results in a change of name (of the Authorisation holder/Licensee) on the Authorisation and/or License.
Pre-approval
All Authorisation holders/Licensees are required under their Authorisation and/or Licence conditions to apply for pre-approval from the CRU prior to any assignment or transfer of an Authorisation and/or Licence. Failure to do so may give rise to grounds for revoking your Authorisation/Licence.
The CRU must satisfy itself that the intended Authorisation holder/Licensee has the financial, technical and managerial strength required in advance of the assignment or transfer, and ultimately that the assignment or transfer will not adversely affect the ability of the authorisation/licence holder to comply with the authorisation/licence conditions.
Where the CRU has consented in writing to the Assignment or Transfer of the Authorisation and/or Licence, the Assignment or Transfer should be put into effect as soon as practicable after the consent has been given.
Use the Application for Assignment or Transfer form to apply for pre-approval for an Assignment or Transfer of an Authorisation and/or Licence. Details of how to submit your application are included on the form.
The CRU will endeavour to respond to your application within 8 weeks.
Change of control
A Change of Control of an Authorisation and/or Licence is a change in the shareholders holding the Authorisation to Construct or Reconstruct and/or Licence to Generate, but with the Authorisation holder/Licensee name remaining the same.
All Authorisation holders/Licensees are required under their Authorisation and/or Licence conditions to notify the CRU of a Change of Control soon as is practicable after such a change in control occurs. Failure to do so may give rise to grounds for revoking your authorisation/licence.
The CRU advise that any Change of Control must be notified to the CRU prior to the change occurring. This enables the CRU to satisfy itself that the new shareholder has the financial, technical and managerial strength required in advance of the change taking place, and ultimately that the Change of Control will not adversely affect the ability of the authorisation/licence holder to comply with the authorisation/licence conditions.
If upon notification to CRU of a Change of Control, the CRU deem that the new shareholder(s) does not have the appropriate financial, technical or managerial capabilities, the CRU may revoke the authorisation/licence and/or request a further Change in Control, according to the conditions of the licence or authorisation issued.
To apply for or to notify a Change of Control please complete the Application for Change of Control form. Details of how to submit your application are included in the form.
The CRU endeavour to respond to your application within 6 weeks.