ICMSA calls for expanded solar grants to support farmers
Pat O'Brien of ICMSA farm Business committee
The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association (ICMSA) has called on the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to expand its renewable energy supports for farmers, including the introduction of grants for battery storage systems.
Pat O’Brien, Chairperson of the ICMSA Farm Business Committee, praised SEAI’S involvement in supporting farmer-led renewable energy projects, saying the organisation has moved quickly into an area where the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) had failed to provide sufficient support.
Mr O’Brien said many farmers had been left without funding opportunities after many solar applications were rejected through TAMS due to budget restrictions.
“We were looking at a massive, missed opportunity where TAMS was approving only a tiny number of solar applications due to budgetary constraints, leaving many farmers who were ready-to-commit without any source of funding,” he said.
The ICMSA has encouraged farmers interested in solar energy to consider the SEAI non-domestic solar grant, describing the scheme as practical and professionally managed. However, Mr O’Brien said there were still important gaps that needed to be addressed.
He said the previous TAMS scheme provided grant support for both solar panels and battery storage at a 60 per cent rate, while the SEAI scheme currently does not include support for battery storage and does not provide a comparable level of funding.
“The SEAI should provide grant aid for battery storage systems with sufficient capacity to power morning and evening milkings,” Mr O’Brien said.
He added that allowing farmers to generate, store and use their own electricity would reduce their dependence on the national grid while providing benefits for the wider energy system.
According to Mr O’Brien, the Government faces a choice between investing heavily in additional grid infrastructure to meet rising demand and supporting farmers to install battery storage alongside solar panels.
He said battery storage would help reduce pressure on the electricity network, avoid unnecessary infrastructure costs and provide environmental benefits.
