Grant Increase Positive, But Battery Storage Gap Will Stall Farm Solar

IFA has said the planned increase in the SEAI non-domestic solar PV grant to 45% in next Tuesday’s Budget is progress towards getting farmers back involved in rooftop solar.

However, speaking after a high-level meeting with SEAI officials, IFA Renewables Chair Maurice Brady warned that the lack of a concurrent grant for battery storage will severely limit farmer participation. SEAI acknowledges the commercial value of battery storage on farms, but is currently curtailing its introduction until sometime in 2027, which makes no commercial or technical sense.

“An increase to a 45% solar grant is a major step forward, but to make this truly viable for the farming community, a proportionate battery grant is an absolute necessity,” he said.

“Installing a solar system on a farm without a battery will lead to power being wasted. Farmers will have to retrofit batteries later. It makes no sense from a commercial, resource, or efficiency perspective.”

IFA requested a meeting with Minister Darragh O’Brien to discuss how farmers of all sizes, sectors and energy usage profiles can realistically participate.

“A clear precedent already exists, given the planned introduction of grant aid for domestic battery systems.  If the political will is there to support battery storage, the Government must deliver for farmers what it has committed to homeowners,” he said.

“Minister O’Brien needs to address this as a matter of urgency and announce grant-aided battery storage as part of a farm installation package in the upcoming Budget.”

Details: www.ifa.ie/solar/funding