Solar PV For Farms

Farm grants for solar PV vary.

The TAMS 3 solar capital investment scheme offers grants to farmers developing or improving certain farm buildings and equipment.

The grant is paid at a rate of 60% up to the max investment ceiling of €90,000.

As a result, the grant value varies.

The minimum investment required to be eligible for this farm grant is €2,000.

More details on this scheme can be found on gov.ie

Another grant opportunity for agribusinesses that should be considered is the non-domestic microgen grant (€162,600 SEAI grant available with our solar panels for businesses solution). Also, farmers with homes separate to their holding may be interested in the domestic solar grants available with our solar panels for homes solution.

Other financial incentives for farms may also be applicable, such as accelerated capital allowance.

All these incentives combine to make agricultural solar PV a compelling opportunity for Irish farmers.

Since each farm and farm building has unique energy needs, the cost of solar PV systems differ significantly from one farm to another.

The cost to install solar panels on a farm varies based on many factors, including the number of panels needed, the size and type of panels, the quality of the panels, the overall system requirements, such as batteries and hot water diverters, along with many other factors.

Available grants also influence the total cost.

But for reference, the starting price for a domestic solar PV system is typically around €8,000 for a 2.6kWp system before any grant subsidies.

To get an accurate estimate for your farm, simply request a quote using this form.

There are planning permission exemptions for solar panels on farms, businesses and several other buildings.

So planning permission is not required for solar panels on farms under certain conditions.

These conditions are different for rooftop and ground mounted solar PV systems.

The planning permission exemptions, and grants, for farms are aimed at increasing the uptake of solar in the agricultural sector in Ireland.

More details on planning permission exemptions can be found on gov.ie

The best solar panels for farms in Ireland are high-efficiency, Tier1, N-Type, bifacial, monocrystalline panels with a class A fire rating, and long-term product and performance warranty.

The solar panels must also be suitable for the Irish climate, so wind tolerance, operational temperature, etc., must be considered.

Also, in addition to solar panels, the complete solar system must be considered.

Here at Ohk energy, we install the best solar panels and complete solar solution, as standard.

Start With SEAI Registered Non-Domestic Solar Installers.

The complete list of SEAI registered solar installers, including Ohk energy (formerly, and possible still in the register as, NRG Panel), can be found here. Be sure to select “Non Domestic” to see agricultural solar installers and check the “Serving Counties” column to ensure they cater to your location.

To avail of solar PV grants, installations must be completed by an SEAI registered installer.

SEAI registration helps ensure best practice, tax and insurance compliance. SEAI does not endorse any specific solar installer so more due diligence is required.

Check For ISO Accreditation.

ISO accreditation indicates a solar installer’s commitment to maintaining high standards in operations and management practices.

This helps ensure you choose a solar PV partner that’s reliable, has consistent quality, and adheres to best practices. In turn, this reduces the risk of a subpar installation and aftersales support.

Here at Ohk energy, we are proud of our triple ISO accreditation.

Find References & Reviews.

Reviews provide insights into a solar installer’s service quality, which helps ensure you choose the best solar PV partner for your farm.

Negative reviews, or even hidden reviews, can indicate potential issues or concerns.

Here at Ohk energy, formed by the merger of NRG Panel and JFW Renewables, we’re proud of our exceptionally high review ratings.

Our Ohk energy Google Reviews can be found here, NRG Panel Google Reviews can be found here (Trustpilot reviews here) and JFW Renewables Google Reviews can be found here.

Ask About Warranties & Partners.

Additionally, to find the best agricultural solar PV installer ask about:

• Their warranties (product and workmanship warranties, e.g. Ohk energy our panels have a 25 year product and 30 year performance manufacturer warranty, teamed with our own 5 year workmanship warranty).
• Their business partners (e.g. Ohk energy are Electric Ireland & Harvey Norman official partners).

This, combined with the above, will help you identify the best agricultural solar installer for your farm or agribusiness.