Solar Panels for Farms to get new Grant
A new grant for Solar PV systems has been announced. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, announced that new grants will be available for Irish farms to install Solar PV and LED lights under the TAMS on-farm investment scheme. This will make €10m worth of grants available for energy efficiency and Solar PV technologies, following a comprehensive review of the TAMS scheme designed to increase its focus on sustainability and renewable energy generation.
Minister Creed said“a comprehensive review of the investment items available under TAMS has been carried out by my Department. The review factored in the latest available technologies to further drive energy efficiency at farm level and reduce electricity use on farms. This is part of the wider drive to position Irish agriculture as a global leader in sustainability and these investments will further enhance those credentials”.
The new grants will be available for farmers in April. The next tranche of TAMS opening 5 April next will be the start. the grants include:
- Solar PV Installation on Farms – to extend current availability under the scheme to all sectors. Grant aid in this initial pilot phase of up to €9,300 or up to 60% of the overall cost will be available to fund a 6kWp solar system;
- LED Lighting –all lighting funded under the scheme will be required to be LED lighting. LED Lighting uses a fraction of the electricity consumed by conventional lighting. The current specifications for TAMS II include lighting in all new farm structures. In future, only LED lighting only will now be grant aided.
The Minister stated “I have listened to Irish farmers on this issue and their enthusiasm to invest in on-farm renewable technologies. I am pleased to be responding with these new grants. The TAMS scheme is already a significant investor in improving energy efficiency on Irish farms and we keep the scheme under constant review. Any new and emerging technologies will continue to be monitored with a view to their inclusion in future if feasible”.
Give Glenergy a call to discuss your options under this grant. ph: 01 5563100
