Menu
Solar photovoltaic (PV) cells function by converting sunlight into electricity. Solar radiation is converted into direct current (DC) power using PV cells. This DC electricity is then inverted to AC electricity for use in buildings or export to the grid. When light shines on the PV cell, it creates an electric field that causes electricity to flow through the silicon conducting layers.
The produced electricity must be connected to the grid via cabling. A generation meter is used to track the overall amount of power generated by the panels, while an export meter is used to track the amount of electricity exported to the national grid.
Solar PV is a very cost-effective way to generate renewable energy, and now is the best time to start installing Solar PV to your Farm. If you have a surplus throughout the day, it can be automatically redirected into battery storage or immersion diverters to heat water, which will be needed in greater numbers on dairy farms in the future.
Solar PV is eligible for a variety of grants, along with a 100% tax write-off in the year of installation and full VAT rebates.
The Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) offers grant help for solar panels on dairy, meat, and tillage farms.
Sustainability Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) Offer Farmers in the dairy, meat, and tillage industries will get full financial support for solar PV systems up to 11 kWp and battery storage systems up to 6 kWp.
Grant amounts
Farmers may earn a 40% grant on their solar PV installation
Young farmers receiving a 60% or 30% BEC grant
1 – Rising Energy Costs: Going forward, rising carbon taxes will continue to increase energy prices. Higher daytime energy costs improve the payback for solar PV and make the economics of storing solar energy, and nighttime grid energy, more profitable.
2 – Grants/Tax Incentives: The Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) offers a 40% grant on solar PV investment, whereas young qualified farmers can get up to 60% in grant aid. PV installers need to be on the SEAI installer’s register or the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine approval list
3 – Paid for Excess Electricity: The government has committed to introduce a feed-in tariff for surplus energy exported to the grid (from microgeneration). The details have not been released yet, but it is expected that depending on the size of the transformer servicing a business or farm, exports from up to a 50kwp solar PV system will be supported.
4 – Lower Carbon Emissions: For all stakeholders in society, environmental sustainability is no longer an option. Reducing carbon emissions to address the climate crisis is going to be extremely expensive. Solar PV is a highly cost-effective way to reduce carbon emissions. Every kwp of solar PV installed will reduce your carbon emissions by up to 500 kg/year.
5 – Low Maintenance Costs: The solar PV technology is well-established across the world, with its deployment doubling every year. The technology works well in Ireland with predictable and measurable output. There are no moving parts and it requires very little maintenance.
Costs have dropped by almost 90% in the last decade and efficiency has improved to the point where future gains will be slow.
Solar PV Electricity is one of the World’s most reliable forms of renewable energy. It is very cost-effective to self generate electricity for all your farm needs. Peak performance is from March to October which is an ideal technology option for robotic dairy, poultry and pig farms – which are very significant users of electricity.
Solar PV is a very cost-effective solution for generating renewable electricity, and now is the right time to install it. If you generate a surplus during the day it can be automatically redirected into battery storage or into immersion diverters to heat water – which is going to be required in increasing quantities on dairy farms going forward.
Solar PV enjoys attractive grant options and qualifies for 100% tax write off in the year of installation and full VAT refunds.
Farmers can see a payback of less than five years on their solar PV investment and enjoy a dependable supply of renewable electricity for over 30 years, making it probably one of the best investments that any farmer can make to improve their sustainability credentials.
Solar panels on dairy, beef and tillage farms can now receive grant aid under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS).
Dairy, beef and tillage farmers will get full grant support for up to 11kWp of solar PV and 6kWp of battery storage. In addition, with the reference pricing in place, most farmers can secure a 40% grant on their solar PV investment with young qualified farmers getting up to 60% or a 30% BEC grant from the Sustainability Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
Energlaze are registered with both the department of Agriculture and with the SEAI to assist with securing the best Grants for your farm business.
We help all our clients with the applicaion process for BEC/ SEAI grants to improve the success of the application.