Solar panels installed on large farm shed roof in the Irish midlands with cattle visible below

Cut Your Farm’s Electric Bill by 60–85%

TAMS III grant covers up to 60% — payback in just 3-5 years

60%

TAMS III grant

€90k

max grant amount

3-5yr

payback period

95%

self-consumption

Why Irish Farms Are Perfect for Solar

Irish farms have conditions that make solar incredibly effective:

Huge Roof Space

Agricultural sheds offer massive, unshaded south-facing roofs. A typical 40m x 20m dairy shed can accommodate 150-200kW of solar panels — enough to power most dairy operations.

High Daytime Usage

Farm electricity use peaks during daylight hours exactly when solar produces most:

Milking parlour: 4-7am and 3-6pm peaks
Tank cooling: All day, highest during and after milking
Ventilation: Continuous during livestock housing periods
Feed systems: Usually operate during daylight hours

Excellent Self-Consumption

Unlike homes that export 50-70% of solar production, farms typically use 95%+ on-site. This maximises savings since you avoid both:

Buying electricity at 30-35c/kWh
Low export payments at 18-25c/kWh

TAMS III Grant — 60% Funding for Farm Solar

The Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS III) provides up to 60% grant funding for on-farm solar installations, capped at €90,000. This is one of the most generous renewable energy grants available anywhere.

Grant Details

Grant rate: 60% of eligible costs
Maximum grant: €90,000 per holding
Minimum system: 10kW (practical minimum for farms is 20kW)
Eligible: Active farmers with herd number or registered with DAFM
Installation deadline: Systems must be commissioned by grant deadline

What’s Covered

The grant covers:

Solar panels and mounting systems
Inverters and electrical equipment
Installation and commissioning
Electrical certification and grid connection
Battery storage (up to 50% of solar system size)

What’s Not Covered

Planning applications (rarely needed for agricultural buildings)
Electrical upgrades to existing farm wiring
VAT (farmers can reclaim separately if VAT registered)

Typical Farm Solar System Sizes & Costs

30kW System (Small to Medium Farm)

Roof area needed: 200m²
Annual generation: 25,500 kWh
Typical cost: €24,000-€28,000
TAMS grant: €14,400-€16,800
Out-of-pocket: €9,600-€11,200
Annual savings: €7,600-€8,900
Payback: 3.2-4.1 years

50kW System (Medium Dairy Farm)

Roof area needed: 330m²
Annual generation: 42,500 kWh
Typical cost: €38,000-€44,000
TAMS grant: €22,800-€26,400
Out-of-pocket: €15,200-€17,600
Annual savings: €12,700-€14,900
Payback: 3.4-4.2 years

100kW System (Large Farm Operation)

Roof area needed: 650m²
Annual generation: 85,000 kWh
Typical cost: €70,000-€85,000
TAMS grant: €42,000-€51,000 (capped at €90k total)
Out-of-pocket: €28,000-€34,000
Annual savings: €25,500-€29,800
Payback: 3.1-4.0 years

All costs include VAT. Generation figures based on 850 kWh/kWp/year for Midlands locations.

How Much Can You Save?

Electricity Bill Impact

A well-sized farm solar system typically reduces electricity bills by:

60-85% reduction in total electricity costs
€6,000-€30,000+ annual savings depending on farm size
Protection against rising electricity prices for 25+ years

Real Farm Example: Dairy Farm, Co. Roscommon

Farm type: 120-cow dairy, robotic milking
System size: 75kW (500 panels)
Annual generation: 63,750 kWh
Self-consumption: 98%
Annual bill before solar: €22,400
Annual bill after solar: €3,800
Annual savings: €18,600
System cost: €58,000
TAMS grant: €34,800
Farmer paid: €23,200
Payback period: 3.7 years

Farm Solar vs. Ground-Mount Systems

Why Roof-Mount is Better

Most farm solar should go on sheds, not in fields:

Advantages of roof-mount:

No lost agricultural land
Utilises existing structures
Lower planning risk
Better security
Easier maintenance access
TAMS eligible

Ground-mount considerations:

Takes productive land out of use
Higher planning complexity
May affect Single Farm Payment eligibility
More complex TAMS application
Higher installation costs per kW

Technical Considerations for Farm Solar

Roof Suitability

Not all farm roofs are suitable:

Ideal roofs:

Corrugated steel or slate in good condition
South-facing (SE to SW acceptable)
Unshaded by trees or other buildings
Structurally sound (certified by engineer)
Easy access for installation and maintenance

Problematic roofs:

Asbestos sheeting (can be worked around but adds cost)
Fibre cement over 20 years old
Heavily shaded roofs
Roofs requiring major repairs

Electrical Integration

Farm installations require careful electrical design:

Three-phase connection essential for:

Systems over 11kW (all farm systems)
Balanced load distribution
Integration with existing farm electrical systems

Metering arrangements:

Export limitation to match on-site consumption
Half-hourly metering for larger systems
Integration with existing farm supply

Battery Storage for Farms

While most farm solar doesn’t need batteries due to high daytime usage, some situations benefit:

When Batteries Make Sense

24/7 operations: Pig or poultry units with continuous ventilation
Time-of-use tariffs: Maximise savings on evening peak rates
Grid stability: Areas with poor grid stability
Future expansion: Planning for EV charging or heat pumps

TAMS Battery Grant

Grant covers battery storage up to 50% of solar system size
60% grant applies to battery costs
Typical addition: €8,000-€15,000 for 25-50kWh systems

Planning Permission

Agricultural Buildings

Most farm solar installations are planning exempt under Class 19 of the Planning Regulations:

Solar panels on existing agricultural buildings
No change to building use or structure
Panels don’t exceed roof area by more than 50%

When Planning Might Be Needed

Ground-mount systems over certain size thresholds
Listed or protected structures
Special Areas of Conservation
Significant visual impact concerns

Lumen Solar provides a planning assessment as part of every farm solar survey.

TAMS Application Process

1. Initial Assessment (Free)

Roof survey and structural assessment
Electrical system evaluation
Usage analysis and system sizing
TAMS eligibility check

2. TAMS Application

We handle the full application:

Drawings and specifications
Cost breakdown and quotes
Environmental impact assessment
Submission to local DAFM office

3. Approval and Installation

Approval typically takes 8-12 weeks
Installation scheduled following approval
System commissioned and certified
Grant claim submitted

4. Grant Payment

Grant paid directly to farmer
Usually processed within 6-8 weeks of claim submission
Payment covers 60% of final certified costs

Why Choose Lumen Solar for Farm Solar?

TAMS Specialists

Over 100 TAMS applications submitted
98% approval rate
Full application handling — no farmer paperwork
Relationships with local DAFM offices

Farm Experience

Based in Athlone, we understand Midlands farming:

Dairy, beef, tillage, and mixed enterprise experience
Know local building types and electrical systems
Understand seasonal farm operations
Work around busy farm schedules

Technical Expertise

Structural engineers for roof assessments
Chartered electrical engineers on staff
All installers RECI registered
Full ESB Networks G99 compliance

Maintenance and Performance

What’s Included

Every Lumen Solar farm installation includes:

25-year panel performance warranty
10-year inverter warranty (extendable to 25 years)
5-year installation workmanship warranty
Real-time monitoring with mobile app alerts
Annual performance reports

Ongoing Maintenance

Farm solar systems are low-maintenance:

Self-cleaning: Rain keeps panels clean in Irish climate
Visual inspections: Monthly checks during farm rounds
Professional service: Annual inverter health check recommended
Performance monitoring: Alerts identify any issues quickly

Expected Performance Decline

Years 1-10: Less than 5% production decline
Years 11-25: 0.5% annual decline typical
After 25 years: Panels typically still produce 80%+ of original output

Environmental Benefits

Carbon Footprint Reduction

A typical 50kW farm solar system:

Displaces: 42,500 kWh of grid electricity annually
Avoids: 15.3 tonnes CO2 per year
Lifetime impact: 380 tonnes CO2 avoided over 25 years

Sustainability Credentials

Solar helps with:

Renewable energy targets: Contributes to national and EU goals
Farm sustainability reporting: Important for milk processors and co-ops
Next generation planning: Shows commitment to environmental responsibility

Get Started: Free Farm Solar Assessment

What We Assess

Our free farm solar assessment includes:

Roof survey: Structural suitability and solar access analysis
Electrical evaluation: Integration with existing farm systems
Usage analysis: 12 months of electricity bills reviewed
Financial modelling: Costs, grants, savings, and payback calculations
TAMS eligibility: Confirmation of grant qualification

Next Steps

Call us: (090) 640 0180 — speak to someone who understands farms
Site survey: We visit at a time that suits your farm schedule
Detailed proposal: Full costs, grants, and projected savings
TAMS application: We handle everything if you decide to proceed

Service Area

From our base in Athlone, we cover all Midlands farms plus:

Primary area: Westmeath, Roscommon, Offaly, Longford
Extended area: Galway (east), Laois, Tipperary (north), Meath (south)
Travel: We’ll go further for larger installations (50kW+)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I get TAMS grant if I’m not the landowner? A: You must be an active farmer with either ownership or a long-term lease. Family arrangements can work but need proper documentation.

Q: How long does TAMS approval take? A: Typically 8-12 weeks from application submission. We advise applying in autumn/winter for spring/summer installation.

Q: What if my roof needs repairs? A: Roof repairs aren’t TAMS eligible, but we can coordinate with agricultural contractors to get roofs solar-ready.

Q: Can I add more panels later? A: Yes, but you’d need a separate TAMS application. It’s usually more cost-effective to size the system correctly initially.

Q: Does solar affect farm insurance? A: Most farm insurers cover solar installations. We provide technical specifications for your insurance review.

Q: What about ESB Networks connection? A: We handle all grid connection paperwork and liaise with ESB Networks. Most farm installations connect without network upgrades.

Lumen Solar is an SEAI registered installer and TAMS approved contractor. All farm solar installations comply with IS EN 50548 standards and ESB Networks requirements. TAMS grant rates and eligibility criteria are subject to Department of Agriculture policy and may change.

Farm Solar Panels

Key Features