Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 December 2025
127. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide an update in relation to the Programme for Government commitment to examine community-led ownership models for renewable energy production as an additional income stream for farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73219/25]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to examine community-led ownership models for renewable energy production as an additional income stream for farmers.
Renewable electricity projects bring benefits to local communities across the country through jobs, community funds, and local revenue. In that regard, my Department is committed to engaging farmers in renewable energy opportunities, fostering sustainable growth and economic diversification in rural Ireland.
Renewable energy offers farmers and others in rural areas opportunities to diversify and develop new income streams and reduce costs. Farms, individuals, and businesses can generate their own electricity, cut utility costs, and reduce emissions through the deployment of renewable energy.
Several supports aid farmers in this transition. The Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS) incentivises small-scale solar projects. Its first phase offers grants to renewables self-consumers for installations from 50 kilowatt to 1 megawatt. Renewables self-consumers are electricity customers that produce renewable electricity for their own use. They are also entitled to sell any excess electricity produced to their electricity supplier, or store it for their own use. Grants for over 12.9 MW of renewable electricity has been approved so far under this scheme from agriculture applicants.
The second, export phase of SRESS opened in January 2025. It assists farmers, communities, and SMEs to establish export projects up to 6 megawatt, providing a guaranteed tariff, without performance bonds or auctions. SRESS simplifies market access for such small and community projects that are not suited to other schemes. Farmers can apply to SRESS on their own, on the same basis as SMEs, or else as members of Renewable Energy Communities.
Additionally, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s TAMS 3 Solar Capital Investment Scheme (SCIS) offers farmers 60% grant aid, up to €90,000, for solar installations for self-consumption.
