Plans are afoot to launch a 60% grant for on-farm solar projects later in 2022. This was relayed by Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue at an Irish Farmers’ Association AGM.
Paul O’Brien, Environment Committee Chairman, commented that rooftop solar on farm buildings offers significant potential to mitigate farm emissions. Solar will also help Ireland reach renewable energy targets and improve the resilience of farm business against rising energy costs.
“The confirmation of 60% grant aid under TAMS will make solar installations more viable on farms and overcome the high initial installation costs. However, that funding must be additional to the current funding allocated under TAMS and should not be restricted by the €80,000 limit,” he said.
O’Brien added that, “If Ireland is committed to meet the carbon reduction targets for electricity of 62% to 81% as set out in the Climate Action Plan, a new scheme must be introduced that supports farmers to install rooftop solar PV, which optimises the renewable energy that can be produced on-farm buildings and allows farmers to use excess energy for domestic purposes or to sell to the grid.”
The maximum size of PV panels currently eligible for grant aid are 11kW. Electricity generated must be used on the farm. It is also not permitted to use or export the electricity generated for domestic, commercial or non-farming use.
Ireland’s adoption of renewable technologies at farm level is below the European average. In 2018, Ireland ranked 23rd out of the EU-27 for renewable energy from agriculture, producing just 2.6% compared with the average of 12.1%.
LSL News.