Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 January 2026
805. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to promote grants for installing solar panels on farm buildings in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4009/26]
View answerThe Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3), which is EU co-funded, provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings.
The Solar Capital Investment scheme is one of the measures in TAMS, which provides support to farmers wishing to invest in renewable energy, thereby reducing their dependence on fossil fuels. The objective of the scheme is to enable farmers to consume solar PV-generated electricity on site to meet their farm electricity demand, including the dwelling house. In order to encourage the purchase of solar investments, the solar scheme is ringfenced with its own investment ceiling of €90,000, and grant aided at the enhanced rate of 60%.
Under the current EU regulations and under the CAP Strategic Plan, it is required that the electricity generated annually from the installed solar PV system does not exceed the annual electricity demand of the farmyard, including the dwelling house.
There may be occasions, however, over a 12-month period when the electricity generated will surpass the farmyard/dwelling house demand. In these cases, the surplus electricity is spilled over to the grid and it is permissible for the farmer to receive remuneration for the quantity that spills over. This spillover of generated electricity is paid for under the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG), which is available to all renewable generators, including farmers. The price for the spillover electricity is set by the energy provider under the Clean Export Guarantee.
As part of the TAMS application, an ‘On Farm Solar PV Survey’ must be completed and submitted with the application to quantify the holding's annual electricity demand and the planned electricity supply from the proposed development. An application may be rejected or amended if the applicant cannot demonstrate that the electricity produced annually from the solar panels is not in excess of the annual electricity demand of the applicant’s agricultural holding. The maximum size of panel eligible for grant aid currently is 62 kW. It should be noted that an applicant can install additional panels but at their own cost.
The supports available under TAMS for the installation of solar panels are in keeping with my commitment to assist farmers to address climate and sustainability targets. My Department will continue to promote their take-up by farmers and to ensure prompt and efficient processing of applications and approvals, while operating within the budgetary constraints associated with TAMS and the wider CAP Strategic Plan.
