Richard Starrett - November 2024

‘We spent €15,525 on solar panels – but they should pay for themselves in just 3½ years’

Why this Donegal dairy farmer has installed a second batch of panels

We recently installed new solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. This has been in the planning for some time, so it’s great to finally see them in operation.

Solar panels have been a feature here since October 2019, supplying 5.5kW to the farm and farmhouse at peak sunshine.

A notable increase in energy costs in 2022, coupled with the construction of a new cubicle shed with a large roof space, influenced the decision to increase the number solar panels. A 60pc TAMs grant also made them more attractive.

I have great confidence in solar energy: the initial panel installation paid for itself in just four years.

In total, we can now produce 23.5kW on the farm in peak sunshine. The recent installation also includes two 5Kw batteries for storage. The aim is to maximise the energy use on the farm.

The system is set to charge our electric car first, which can take 7.5kW at any one time. It is then directed on to water heaters and the farmhouse and is designed for use in the peak during the day, and finally on to the farmyard where the majority of energy is used.

We also have the system set so that we can send 6kW back to the grid. This is the maximum that our local substation can take, but this can vary depending on your location.

Our current electricity supplier pays us 25c/kW for anything exported to the grid, which is a bonus. Monitoring the new meters during the recent dull mornings, I can see that just 1.5kW is being generated, but this increases as sunlight becomes more available.

The new cubicle shed, built in 2023, really has benefited the farm in numerous ways: increased slurry storage, more cubicle space, and now the solar panels on the roof.

It’s important to note that an assessment took place by the company installing the panels while the building was being complete. Various points were taken in to account: spacing of the timber purlins was kept under 1.5m, and there was no skylights or spaced sheeting used on the roof.

We have a 25-year guarantee with the solar panels so it was important to get the installation company right. The company we went with made the process very simple and I got great support from start to finish.

The total cost for the 18kw solar panels and 10kw storage was €15,525 with TAMs at 60pc and VAT at 13.5pc excluded. If we generate €4,436 per year, and I think we can, the installation will have covered its cost after 3½ years. Of course, this will depend on the price of energy and adequate sunshine, but even if it takes a bit longer, it will be well worth the investment.

Solar panels have increased in popularity in recent years, especially on dairy farms.

They provide many benefits such as reducing energy costs, increasing sustainability, they give better control in withstanding price fluctuations in energy markets and they give potential to export excess energy back to the grid, which can provide additional income.

If you are thinking about installing solar panels on your farm, it is important to research the capabilities and impact they could have. It is quite a permanent decision so it is important to get it right, but it has worked here on this farm.

This article was first published in the Irish Independent.