The Solar Capital Investment scheme (SCIS) is a measure under the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3), which provides support to farmers wishing to invest in renewable energy. Grant aid is provided to assist farmers in maximising their contribution to the production of renewable energy through the installation of Solar PV technology, together with battery storage.
The SCIS has been hugely popular with farmers, with 5,529 applications received under the first ten tranches of the Scheme. To date, a total of 3,167 approvals have issued, with payments of €22.8 million issuing to 1,232 applicants since payments commenced in 2024. A further breakdown of applications by sector are provided in the table below.
The Ranking and Selection System (RASS) under the Solar Capital Investment Scheme applies marks across a range of criteria, including the age of the applicant, the size of the holding, land in Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) and Nitrates status.
Of the 3,167 approvals issued to date under SCIS, 55% have issued to dairy farmers. This achieves the objective of providing support to a sector with significant energy usage by encouraging investment in renewable energy, thereby reducing their dependence on fossil fuels. On that basis, I believe that the current ranking and selection scoring system is the best mechanism for ensuring that funding is targeted at the most appropriate enterprises. I will also ensure that the system continues to be reviewed on a regular basis.
TAMS 3 Solar Capital Investment Scheme - Applications Received by Enterprise Type **
|
-
|
2024
|
|
|
|
|
2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
Type of Enterprise
|
Applications
|
%
|
Claims Paid
|
%
|
Value
|
Applications
|
%
|
Claims Paid
|
%
|
Value
|
|
Milk
|
969
|
54%
|
142
|
51%
|
€3,008,737
|
1573
|
62%
|
474
|
50%
|
€10,504,091
|
|
Other Grazing Livestock (excl. Milk)
|
594
|
33%
|
101
|
36%
|
€1,000,509
|
776
|
30%
|
312
|
33%
|
€3,127,903
|
|
Pigs or Poultry (Granivores)
|
111
|
6%
|
18
|
6%
|
€412,738
|
79
|
3%
|
81
|
8%
|
€2,478,968
|
|
Mixed (Crops and Livestock)
|
64
|
4%
|
10
|
3.5%
|
€264,323
|
83
|
3%
|
44
|
4.7%
|
€754,757
|
|
Field Crops (Tillage)
|
60
|
3%
|
7
|
3%
|
€157,640
|
45
|
2%
|
39
|
4%
|
€895,793
|
|
Horticulture
|
4
|
0.22%
|
1
|
0.5%
|
€54,000
|
5
|
0.20%
|
3
|
0.3%
|
€120,300
|
|
Other Permanent Crops (Fruits)
|
1
|
0.06%
|
|
0
|
-
|
0
|
-
|
0
|
0
|
|
|
Total
|
1803
|
|
279
|
|
€4,897,947
|
2561
|
|
953
|
|
€17,881,812
|
** Enterprise type is self-declared on TAMS applications and categories declared do not include beef or sheep farmers, which are included under other grazing livestock.
