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Solar panels on land

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  • 06-02-2016 10:16pm
    #1
    JOAT
    Registered Users Posts: 109 ✭✭


    Anyone know much about these? Heard today that a next door neighbor is thinking of getting them. Land is of very good quality and very dry. Only a few inches of topsoil in places due to limestone. Anyone know the conditions attached to getting these put in? Really would hate to see such good land on the bounds ditch covered in these yokes for the next 30 or 40 years. Hopefully he'll see sense and move away from the idea. Farmer is elderly but not living on the farm


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    #2
    greasepalm
    Registered Users Posts: 5,267 ✭✭✭greasepalm


    trying to see what the idea is in this case,i have solar panels on roof of house to heat water in the summer but not much good in the winter.over in uk they can be used for generating electricity and supply surplus to the grid.
    dont think we are going that way yet.


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    #3
    greasepalm
    Registered Users Posts: 5,267 ✭✭✭greasepalm


    trying to see what the idea is in this case,i have solar panels on roof of house to heat water in the summer but not much good in the winter.over in uk they can be used for generating electricity and supply surplus to the grid.
    dont think we are going that way yet.


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    #4
    Miname
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,984 ✭✭✭Miname


    They're coming and I'd say in a big way. Ireland has loads to do on renewable energy. I can't see the issue with them there will be strips of graze able ground between them. There's a fair few British companies getting established here at the moment.


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    #5
    Markcheese
    Registered Users Posts: 8,432 ✭✭✭Markcheese


    There's loads of potential sites being scouted out...(in the south and south east ) but none financed yet, grid connection slots will take time to organise too,
    The land is still grazeable with the p.v panels in place...
    Whats wrong with your neighbour making a few bob out of the farm...

    Slava ukraini 🇺🇦



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    #6
    warpdrive
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 187 ✭✭warpdrive


    He could possibly sell any excess power back to the grid or store it to use himself. What's wrong with doing that? Sounds smart, especially since solar is becoming more and more effective.

    One day we may see some roads constructed with built in solar panels. As far as I know, a city or town in France is already testing this out as a means for powering the area.


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    #7
    rangler1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,497 ✭✭✭rangler1


    farmers around here are getting letters lately offering €1000/ac per year for 25 years and sheep would be able to graze under the solar panels


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    #8
    arctictree
    Registered Users Posts: 4,294 ✭✭✭arctictree


    rangler1 wrote: »
    farmers around here are getting letters lately offering €1000/ac per year for 25 years and sheep would be able to graze under the solar panels

    Would the ground not be in constant shade under the solar panels?


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    #9
    greasepalm
    Registered Users Posts: 5,267 ✭✭✭greasepalm


    possibly not if raised off the ground and at an angle to the sun ,some time of day it will be lit underneath with the arch of the sun. agree solar is the way to go and nice if fossil fuels are going and reducing carbon footprint even further.


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    #10
    Birdnuts
    Registered Users Posts: 9,662 ✭✭✭Birdnuts


    None will be built without refit subsidies - its still unclear what the government/energy regulator will agree to in that area and nothing has been announced on the matter to date. Solar on this scale is rather financially dubious at our latitude so they will have to be rather generous to make solar farms pay. The industry in the UK has ground to a halt recently with the cutting of these subsidies due to spiralling costs which is why many of these companies are now over here seeing what they can tap the Irish market for. Given the experience of some farmers with wind developer contracts, folks need to be very carefull about what exactly they are signing up to in terms of the small print etc. permitted use of land etc. so getting your own legal advice on such contracts is a must. Good idea to check out the tax implications too.


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    #11
    Brown Podzol
    Registered Users Posts: 1,847 ✭✭✭Brown Podzol


    arctictree wrote: »
    Would the ground not be in constant shade under the solar panels?

    If they would keep the rain off they would be worth it alone for that.
    "It would be a grand little country if you could roof it"


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    #12
    greenpetrol
    Registered Users Posts: 125 ✭✭greenpetrol


    Brown Podzol wrote: »
    If they would keep the rain off they would be worth it alone for that.
    "It would be a grand little country if you could roof it"

    They could be very useful to the guys with outside cubicles


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    #13
    Hershall
    Registered Users Posts: 336 ✭✭Hershall


    rangler1 wrote: »
    farmers around here are getting letters lately offering €1000/ac per year for 25 years and sheep would be able to graze under the solar panels

    Where do I sign!!!!!!!!!


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    #14
    coconnellz
    Registered Users Posts: 147 ✭✭coconnellz


    But it is only in specific areas in south and south east where the infrastructure is already In place to carry the electrical load to the grid also you need transformer boxes etc


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    #15
    foxy farmer
    Registered Users Posts: 3,194 ✭✭✭foxy farmer


    There was a submission for over 20 acres of solar panels lodged recently in relation to ground within 2 miles of me. Grand land that has been growing barley and silage and fattening cattle longer than i have been around.
    Marginal ground fair enough but fine productive land? One thing for sure- no fear the lad in question will go into sheep.


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    #16
    Miname
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,984 ✭✭✭Miname


    There's plenty of interest in it and it's a given we're going to have to accept it. Good or bad land it's not our decision what other farmers do with their land. 750-1500 per acre per year with share agreements, fixed prices, etc. it's going to be major and there's very little options out there that will provide a return like that. I don't know the ins and outs but have been reading up on it. I for one would change over to it in a heartbeat. And if the option presented itself to most farmers I'd say they would too.


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    #17
    Birdnuts
    Registered Users Posts: 9,662 ✭✭✭Birdnuts


    Miname wrote: »
    There's plenty of interest in it and it's a given we're going to have to accept it. Good or bad land it's not our decision what other farmers do with their land. 750-1500 per acre per year with share agreements, fixed prices, etc. it's going to be major and there's very little options out there that will provide a return like that. I don't know the ins and outs but have been reading up on it. I for one would change over to it in a heartbeat. And if the option presented itself to most farmers I'd say they would too.


    I'd be a bit wary of making too many assumptions on the basis of the current PR blitz by some solar comapanies. How big it will be will be is entirely dependent on the refit subsidies set by the future government. The previous government actually abolished these for micro solar so it remains to be seen just how much solar the energy regulator is willing to allow on to the grid - especcially given the energy demand profile in this country which tends to peak during the hours of darkness. Indeed even in Spain the industry is now struggling on the back of subsidy cuts

    http://www.economist.com/news/business/21582018-sustainable-energy-meets-unsustainable-costs-cost-del-sol


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    #18
    carrollsno1
    Registered Users Posts: 2,189 ✭✭✭carrollsno1


    Whats required re planning permission or is there any required and could my b****rd neighbour stop me putting them in i see them here in the uk at the moment and it looks like you could fit a handy tractor underneath will try get a pic next time im passing

    Better living everyone



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    #19
    Birdnuts
    Registered Users Posts: 9,662 ✭✭✭Birdnuts


    carrollsno1 wrote: »
    Whats required re planning permission or is there any required and could my b****rd neighbour stop me putting them in i see them here in the uk at the moment and it looks like you could fit a handy tractor underneath will try get a pic next time im passing

    They require planning permissions like any other major development. They need stuff like security fencing, sub-stations and be located near a suiteable grid access point. Near housing etc. there will be a requirement for alot of screening via tree planting etc. based on the ones that have got PP to date.


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    #20
    tanko
    Registered Users Posts: 9,229 ✭✭✭tanko


    €1000/acre/year for 25 years. Where do i sign up? I assume this is being organised by Nigerians who have won plenty of lottos and are looking for an investment opportunity.
    Farmers who made millions growing willow in recent years will be very interested in this no doubt.


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    #21
    Farrell
    Registered Users Posts: 2,262 ✭✭✭Farrell


    Does it have to be land & what's the min size.
    Allot of farmers wound have sheds with a roof south facing & any income would be welcome


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    #22
    Birdnuts
    Registered Users Posts: 9,662 ✭✭✭Birdnuts


    Farrell wrote: »
    Does it have to be land & what's the min size.
    Allot of farmers wound have sheds with a roof south facing & any income would be welcome

    There are currently no guidlines or feedin tariffs/subsidies in place so nobody will know until the Energy regulator deceides on the matter. Personally i think rooftop solar makes more sense than sprawling solar farms in many ways eg - less issues with planning, land use etc. and the likes of sheds, ware houses etc. would be ideal for this, and you can use a much higher density of panels too compared to land based solar farms.


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    #23
    Miname
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,984 ✭✭✭Miname


    Birdnuts wrote: »
    There are currently no guidlines or feedin tariffs/subsidies in place so nobody will know until the Energy regulator deceides on the matter. Personally i think rooftop solar makes more sense than sprawling solar farms in many ways eg - less issues with planning, land use etc. and the likes of sheds, ware houses etc. would be ideal for this, and you can use a much higher density of panels too compared to land based solar farms.
    Your wrong birdnuts. Loads of info. 25 acre block of land all in one section and can't think of the feed in tariffs and stuff but they are there. I've the paperwork here some where. The sheds are a great idea but not feasible as there are very few large enough to be self paying without a lot of grants.


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    #24
    wclarke20
    Registered Users Posts: 204 ✭✭wclarke20


    I spoke with them recently. Not all farms are elgible. They must be close to a substation to make it feasible.
    Upto 1500 per acre depending on tariffs which the government hasnt confirmed. A contract of 20 years but Im not sure what happens if they go bust in that period.
    Sheep can graze around the solar panels but not cattle.


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    #25
    Birdnuts
    Registered Users Posts: 9,662 ✭✭✭Birdnuts


    Miname wrote: »
    Your wrong birdnuts. Loads of info. 25 acre block of land all in one section and can't think of the feed in tariffs and stuff but they are there. I've the paperwork here some where. The sheds are a great idea but not feasible as there are very few large enough to be self paying without a lot of grants.

    I'm not sure lad where that info is coming from but solar farms are as reliant on these subsidies as roof top installations if they are to hook up to the grid and sell power, as opposed to using them for personal power consumption only. There is currently no supports for grid scale solar in this country so none of these proposed solar farms will actually be operating until that is in place.

    http://www.engineersjournal.ie/2016/01/12/interest-in-solar-pv-heats-up-on-irish-farms/



    "At present there is no subsidy or support available for solar PV. In anticipation of a subsidy many developers are engaging with farmers and taking options on the most suitable sites for development. Developers will have to consider whether sufficient subsidy will be available when bringing forward projects."

    PS: Have you shown your paperwork to your solictor?? Make sure he goes through it with a fine tooth comb before signing off on anything!!


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    #26
    godskitchen
    Registered Users Posts: 1,824 ✭✭✭godskitchen


    People are raving if they think solar will work here. Out of their mind!

    Feed in or grant aided, it won't matter one bit.

    We are the wrong country for this technology, all you have to do is look out the window.

    It's a game for doggy sales guys with no brains.


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    #27
    vermin99
    Registered Users Posts: 227 ✭✭vermin99


    Anyone consider putting solar panels on slatted shed roofs etc?


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    #28
    kowtow
    Registered Users Posts: 6,135 ✭✭✭kowtow


    Call me stupid but if the Ifa really wanted to be useful why isn't it going into the electricity business, generating on some farms and selling to others.

    Electricity in this country is a scandal.


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    #29
    darragh_haven
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,433 ✭✭✭darragh_haven


    kowtow wrote: »
    Call me stupid but if the Ifa really wanted to be useful why isn't it going into the electricity business, generating on some farms and selling to others.

    Electricity in this country is a scandal.

    It costs 2 to 3 times as much to generate electricity on a farm scale as it does buying from the ESB. It's a subsidies game to get up and running.


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    #30
    enricoh
    Registered Users Posts: 4,863 ✭✭✭enricoh


    No doubt there will be anti solar groups kicking off so. Maybe a few candidates in the next election !
    Was collecting a spreader I bought off donedeal and in the space of half an hour signs for no sewerage plant wanted, no pylons wanted and no wind farms wanted! Probably missed a phone mast one too!
    And the lad I bought it off said there was no work to keep young lads in the area!


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    #31
    Birdnuts
    Registered Users Posts: 9,662 ✭✭✭Birdnuts


    enricoh wrote: »
    No doubt there will be anti solar groups kicking off so. Maybe a few candidates in the next election !
    Was collecting a spreader I bought off donedeal and in the space of half an hour signs for no sewerage plant wanted, no pylons wanted and no wind farms wanted! Probably missed a phone mast one too!
    And the lad I bought it off said there was no work to keep young lads in the area!

    In fairness they don't provide much employment after installing and if the ownership of most major wind farms is anything to go by, most of the bigger ones will end being owned by foreign hedge funds. Most of the panels aren't even made in the EU with the vast majority manufactured in China these days. If subsidies(its our money at the end of the day) are to be used to create employment in the energy space, more long terms sustainable jobs should be the aim, like retro-fitting houses, businesses, micro generation etc. for better energy efficiency and lower energy costs which would benefit a much wider group of people.


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