The new Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) means that farms can now avail of the SEAI installation grant for solar PV systems under 6 kW. In addition, they can avail of the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) feed-in tariffs which are available – by law – to domestic and non-domestic owners of small scale microgeneration.

The second, and better, option for farms is to install a solar PV system up to 11 kW, whereby farms can continue to utilise form VAT58 to apply for a full VAT rebate on the installation of their solar PV system, and similarly avail of the new Clean Export Premium (CEP) feed-in tariffs which are available primarily to non-domestic owners of solar PV systems.

Other grant supports are available under the TAMS scheme, for farmers who have not yet used up their allocation, which presents a range of supports and incentives for farmers who wish to meet a portion of their current and future energy usage.

While very worthwhile, the above grant supports are only incentives and do not represent the full financial rewards to be gained from renewable energy.

The biggest gains from Solar PV to agriculture, will be harvested by those with the vision to transform the cost base of their business from petrochemical-based energy to self-produced energy.

It must be several generations since farms had the opportunity to be completely self-sufficient in energy – and this is what solar PV means in reality.

Benefits of Solar PV in Agriculture

There are many upfront and immediate advantages to the use of solar energy in agriculture.

Among these benefits to installing solar photovoltaics in your agricultural enterprise we could list;

• Increased profitability

• Significantly reduce or eliminate a recurring cost from your business.

• Safeguard your bulk milk product.

• Reduce the risk of energy price inflation. Energy costs and inputs are continuing to rise dramatically.

• Reduce your exposure to future grid-failure events or controlled grid-shut-down events.

• Offsetting of future carbon taxes.

If you want to make a good decision today, feel free to Contact Us to begin your solar journey.

The Vision for Solar PV in Agriculture

You can avail of the TAMS grant, or the SEAI grant, along with the feed-in tariffs either CEG or CEP – but these only scratch the surface of what energy independence can do for the cost-base of farming.

Farming consumes a lot of fuel, whether it’s oil, petrol or diesel. For example, Revenue’s research division record that in 2012 in Ireland, approx 70,000 tractors and machinery consumed 288 million litres of diesel. (Source: Revenue)

We can predict that in 2022, there are still approx 70,000 tractors and machinery still consuming diesel which has now doubled in price. This is a cost that can actually be reduced or eliminated.

Whether you are using the average of 4,114 litres per tractor per annum, or more, you can make savings by considering the electric vehicle alternatives and producing your own energy from solar PV.

Electric utility vehicles e-Quads

There are many electric utility vehicles to choose from. As an example we selected the Polaris which is a popular utility vehicle in Ireland.

The Polaris Ranger EV, has the same great utility, powered by electricity.

In fact, electric motors, usually have more torque than their equivalent diesel or petrol motors.

Electric Vehicles e-Tractor

There are likewise a growing number of e-tractors coming to market. While not currently in the same power quadrant as Irish farmers are accustomed to, they do come with a three-point linkage and can perform many of the same tasks as a diesel tractor.

Pictured is the Solectrac e70N, a small utility tractor, costing less than a new conventional tractor.

The people who gain the most from their solar PV investment are those who can see the potential of self-produced energy, and how much of their daily activities, i.e. heating, cooling, transport & electricity – can be generated from a completely free resource, the sun.

Feel free to Contact Us today, to begin your transition to a more profitable business model.