The Micro-Renewable Energy Federation has welcomed increases to the size of solar PV systems that will qualify for grant supports on Irish farms.
Pat Smith, Chairman of MREF, said: “MREF welcomes the constructive engagement we have had with the Department of Agriculture and Minister Creed on the TAMS solar PV support scheme on the changes that were necessary to help ensure that this grant support measure is as effective as possible in supporting on-farm installations of micro-renewable energy generation.”
“With the changes now outlined on the Department’s TAMS webpages, dairy, beef and tillage farmers will get full grant support for up to 11 kWp of solar PV and 6 kWp 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%.”
Smith said more work needs to be done to ensure that all farmers, regardless of whether they have already claimed their full TAMS, can qualify for these enhanced solar PV supports.
He called on the Department to review this restriction as a matter of urgency and ensure that all farmers can avail of these enhanced grant supports.
He said there continues to be no restrictions on system sizes for solar PV installations on pig and poultry farms.
Concluding, Mr. Smith said these enhanced supports make micro-renewable generation a very good investment on most Irish farms.
