Grants For Farmers
Farmers will get full grant support for up to 11Kw of Solar PV and 6Kw of battery storage. A TAMS grant of 40-60% makes solar PV a smart way of reducing farm electricity bills and heating water and, coupled with a 100% tax write off in the year of investment, a solar PV install on your farm can deliver guaranteed paybacks in as little as three years.
The generous TAMS and BEC grants available give you a typical 5 year return on investment. Combining with the upcoming feed-in-tariff you could actually see a 4 year payback.
Solar electricity is reliable and predictable, making it a great way to provide energy security for your your business for the next 30-40 years.
If eligible, the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) provides a 40% grant on a solar PV investment, while young qualified farmers can get up to 60% in grant aid. PV installers need to be on the SEAI register of installers or the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) approved list.
TAMS support is now available to support up to 11kW solar PV on dairy, beef, tillage and sheep farms. This complements the 40% support already available to the pig and poultry sector through the Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme 40%, which is not limited to 11kW.
Planning permission
- The installation of solar panels:
- on agricultural structures, or within the curtilage of an agricultural holding; or
- on or within the curtilage of a house, or any buildings within the curtilage of the house;
- are considered exempted development subject to the conditions set out in Schedule 2, Part 3, Class 18(c) of the Planning and Development Regulations (2001).
- Ground mounted solar (exemption conditions):
- the array shall not exceed 25m2; and,
- the height of the free-standing solar array shall not exceed two metres.
- Roof mounted (exemption conditions):
- shall not exceed 50m2 or 50% of the total roof area, whichever is the lesser; and,
- the solar panels shall be a minimum of 50cm from the edge of the wall or roof on which they are mounted.