Are solar panels worth it for a farm?

For most farms with steady daytime electricity use, yes. Solar typically cuts the farm electricity bill by 40 to 60%, and after the 60% TAMS 3 grant a system pays for itself in 4 to 6 years. Panels last 25 to 30 years.

How much do solar panels for a farm cost?

€9,000 to €100,000 before grants, depending on size. A 30 kWp system for a dairy farm costs about €27,000 before the grant and about €10,800 after TAMS 3.

What grants are there for solar panels on farms?

Two. TAMS 3 pays 60% of the cost, up to a €90,000 investment ceiling, so the most it pays is €54,000. The SEAI Non-Domestic Microgen Grant is also open to farms. You cannot use both on the same system.

What size solar system does a dairy farm need?

Typically 30 to 60 kWp. A dairy farm uses 30,000 to 60,000 kWh of electricity a year, and a system that size covers 40 to 55% of it.

Do farm solar panels work at night?

No. Panels only generate in daylight. A battery stores the surplus from the day for the evening milking or night-time loads, and battery storage is an eligible cost under TAMS 3.

What happens to electricity the farm does not use?

It is exported to the grid and your supplier pays you for it, at about 19.5c per kWh. You need a smart meter to be paid for export.

How long do farm solar panels last?

25 to 30 years. Most manufacturers guarantee at least 80% output at 25 years. The inverter is usually replaced once, after 10 to 15 years, at a cost of €1,500 to €3,000.

Farm solar · Ireland

Solar panels for farms in Ireland

Solar panels for farms in Ireland cost €9,000 to €100,000 before grants, depending on system size. The TAMS 3 grant pays 60% of the cost, up to €54,000, and a typical system pays for itself in 4 to 6 years.

Prices last reviewed October 2026

Farm solar grants Cost by system size

Farm solar at a glance

TAMS 3 grant

60% of the cost

Up to a maximum grant of €54,000

Cost before grant

€9,000 to €100,000

From 11 kWp to 100 kWp, before VAT

Payback

4 to 6 years

After the TAMS 3 grant

Bill saving

40 to 60%

Of the farm electricity bill

Solar by farm type

Farm	Electricity used per year	Typical system	Cost before grant	Share of use solar covers
Dairy	30,000 to 60,000 kWh	30 to 60 kWp	€27,000–€54,000	40 to 55%
Tillage	15,000 to 40,000 kWh	20 to 40 kWp	€18,000–€36,000	35 to 50%
Poultry or pig	60,000 to 150,000 kWh	50 to 100 kWp	€40,000–€80,000	30 to 45%
Beef or mixed	8,000 to 25,000 kWh	10 to 30 kWp	€10,000–€27,000	40 to 60%

Dairy, poultry and pig farms get the best return, because milk cooling and ventilation use electricity through the day, when the panels are generating. See the cost after grants.

Why farms suit solar

Roof space: farm buildings typically have 200 to 1,000 m² of roof. A single hay shed can take a 50 to 100 kWp system without using any land.
Daytime demand: milking, cooling, ventilation and pumping use power while the panels are generating.
Output: each kWp needs 4 to 5 m² of roof and generates about 860 kWh a year.
Planning: panels on a farm building roof are exempt in most cases. See the planning rules.

Grants for farm solar

TAMS 3: 60% of the cost, on up to €90,000 of investment per holding, for systems up to 62 kWp
SEAI grant: for systems up to 1,000 kWp, doubled for applications to 6 July 2027
Both: not allowed on the same system

Do not buy equipment or start work before the TAMS 3 approval letter arrives, or you lose the grant. How the two grants compare.

Guides

Farm solar grants

TAMS 3 and the SEAI grant: what each pays, who qualifies and how to apply.

Farm solar panel cost

Cost by system size and by farm type, before and after the grant.

Solar panels for farm buildings

Which shed roofs take panels, the roof area you need and the planning rules.

Common questions

Pricing solar for your farm?