By their nature, farms use a lot of electricity, whether it’s for milking, pumping, heating, cooling or lighting. Solar PV systems can offset the rising costs of energy, as well as help your farm become even more environmentally friendly and sustainable.
By choosing solar panels for your farm, you can:
- Claim a Government grant: The TAMS grant can help fund solar panels and batteries on farm buildings and sheds. If your installation costs up to €90,000, you could potentially receive 60% of the total cost.
- Reduce your electricity costs: A solar PV system can provide free electricity for your farm during daylight hours. Battery storage systems and hot water diverts are optional ways of maximising the electricity you generate.
- Create a safety net for when energy costs spike: Having a sustainable electricity supply for your farm means you can worry less about changes to energy prices and availability.
- Show your farm’s commitment to sustainability: Solar panels are a practical step towards reducing your farm’s carbon footprint. As a result, you’re also helping Ireland as a whole to reach our climate targets.
Prime Solar
Your Farm’s Trusted Solar Energy Partners
Here at Prime Solar, we’ll partner with you to make the best energy choices for your farm: choices that can help you flourish in the long term.
We never make rash financial promises or rush into things. Instead, we:
- Ask and Listen
We find out exactly what you want, as well as the details of your farm. - Consider all Options
We carefully explore all the possibilities for your farm. - Advise Honestly
We give you truthful information and advice about your next steps. - Source the Finest Products
We provide you with high-quality, fully-certified hardware. - Install Safely
We prioritise people: both yours and our own.
Step by Step to Solar Success
- Step 1: Enquiry
Request a call or email to get the process started. We’ll then get in touch and ask you for some basic information, including your farm’s Eircode and details of your electricity use (based on your electricity bills). - Step 2: Desktop Survey
We’ll use this information to research the best system for your needs. Every farm is unique and your solar PV solution should be too. Sometimes, we discover that a property is not suitable for solar panels; we’ll tell you honestly if this is the case. Planning permission for solar panels has recently been relaxed, but we’ll let you know if it needs to be considered. - Step 3: Indicative Price
Next, we’ll give you a ballpark figure of how much solar panels for your farm will cost. This may change slightly during the physical survey but will help you to make an informed decision. - Step 4: Physical Survey
If you wish to move forward, we’ll visit your farm to carry out some checks. These include examining the roof, as well as the potential locations for each piece of hardware. - Step 5: Final Quotation
After the survey, we’ll send you a final quote. This will inform you of all the costs involved, with no hidden surprises. Remember, Government grants (see below) will help you to cover these.
- Step 6: Grant Application
We’re registered for the TAMS Grant, which can help fund solar panels and batteries on farm buildings and sheds. If you accept our quote, we’ll help you apply for the funding. If your installation costs up to €90,000, you could potentially get 60% of the total cost. - Step 7: Registration
All solar systems need to be registered with ESB Networks before they’re installed. We’ll do this for you and make sure that all the legal requirements for your new solar panels are taken care of. - Step 8: Installation
Two teams will attend your farm to install your new solar panels: a two-person roofing team and a two-person electrical team. These teams are directly employed by us and carry all necessary accreditations, including Safepass, Working at Heights and more. For your peace of mind, we’ll provide you with datasheets for every piece of hardware we install. - Step 9: Final Inspections
Depending on your grant type, the final installation may need to be inspected by the awarding grant body. If so, we’ll keep you up to date on everything you need to know.
Further information
Please contact us here at Prime Solar to discuss the latest developments in solar PV for farms. If you’d like more information from an independent source, Teagasc, the Department of Agriculture and Marine, or your local IFA representative will all be able to help.
