electricity solar generating plant

m3.

hi guys

just had a phone call from a uk company, looking to get established in Ireland in the production of electricity by using solar panels. they are looking for approx. 25 acres or more to build a solar farm also they are offering between €500-€800 per annum per acre depending on the available voltage near the lands... the company is R.G.E. uk

just wondering if any one else has heard of this offer and their opinions on it

Buford T. Justice XIX

m3. wrote: »

hi guys

just had a phone call from a uk company, looking to get established in Ireland in the production of electricity by using solar panels. they are looking for approx. 25 acres or more to build a solar farm also they are offering between €500-€800 per annum per acre depending on the available voltage near the lands... the company is R.G.E. uk

just wondering if any one else has heard of this offer and their opinions on it

Heard a bit.

DO NOT SIGN A CONTRACT WITHOUT GETTING PROFESSIONAL ADVICE!

Apparently one company has a contract where they pay land owners to secure an option on land for solar energy which gives them the right to use the land even if the landowner decides they don't want to proceed to an actual solar farm lease.

Be careful of what you're signing if you do decide to sign.

m3.

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

Heard a bit.

DO NOT SIGN A CONTRACT WITHOUT GETTING PROFESSIONAL ADVICE!

Apparently one company has a contract where they pay land owners to secure an option on land for solar energy which gives them the right to use the land even if the landowner decides they don't want to proceed to an actual solar farm lease.

Be careful of what you're signing if you do decide to sign.

cheers just throwing it out to the public here, I want there opinions on whats going around the country...

tomieen jones

They offer very little money for the option agreement which lasts 5 years with the option for them to renew for another 5 years
that's your land tied up for ten years for what is often. Just 2000 euro ( 200 a year including right of way through your farm )
they say is to secure planning and survey is the site suitable and stuff but the farmer cannot build or make any other major changes to the portfolio they mark out
its a very comprehensive document that your solicitor will explain to you but in short they hold all the cards and all the options and pay the farmer nothing
many of these companies that approach the farmer merely secure the planning and sell it on
I'm not anti solar or wind turbine but as a farmer that was approached a few years ago it sounds great until you actually realise your signing all your rights to your land for pittance

Birdnuts

Theres no refit scheme/money for solar yet in this country so these companies won't be building anything until that appears - assuming it ever does. Was a couple of articles in the farming press recently on this

http://www.independent.ie/business/farming/ifa-warning-on-solar-energy-land-lease-deals-31407238.html

Solar farms are an economically dubious proposition in this part of the world so the government will have to offer a very generous refit scheme to make them financially viable.

angusangus

Birdnuts wrote: »

Theres no refit scheme/money for solar yet in this country so these companies won't be building anything until that appears - assuming it ever does.

Solar farms are an economically dubious proposition in this part of the world so the government will have to offer a very generous refit scheme to make them financially viable.

+1

hurling_lad

I had a man out today surveying a site (21 ac of wet ground at the far end of a block that has poor access to the yard) for a solar farm. Has anyone here (or a neighbour etc.) gone down the planning route with one of these operators?

It sounds like fierce handy money.

Username John

hurling_lad wrote: »

I had a man out today surveying a site (21 ac of wet ground at the far end of a block that has poor access to the yard) for a solar farm. Has anyone here (or a neighbour etc.) gone down the planning route with one of these operators?

It sounds like fierce handy money.

If tis wet - what's the comparison of solar vs forestry?

ford2600

hurling_lad wrote: »

I had a man out today surveying a site (21 ac of wet ground at the far end of a block that has poor access to the yard) for a solar farm. Has anyone here (or a neighbour etc.) gone down the planning route with one of these operators?

It sounds like fierce handy money.

Lady solicitor in CW Ashe Solicitors Macroom had an article in Farming supplement of Examiner this week.

Thread carefully and get good advice.

patsy_mccabe

A solar farm in Ireland. Must be the worst country in the world for that. Might as well start start breeding camels.

barnaman

Could be good earner if suits you long term (may suit a sheep farmer as believe they allow sheep on land with them.

Now the warning!

Be very careful these will create a 15 to 25 year leasehold interest on your land which will be registered on your land. Thus effect value of land and your ability to borrow rtc on it and to sell the land

Also the land may no longer be classfied as ag use and may have tax and inheritance implications,

Lastley what happens if company goes bust this can have create all sorts of probs.

Read these articles similar probs could apply

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/finance/ianmcowie/100016121/when-free-solar-panels-can-prove-an-expensive-mistake/

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/mortgageshome/article-2130985/RICS-warns-house-hunters-buying-homes-free-solar-panels-fitted.html

Cattlepen

Have had them out with me. Very good at the spin and convincing you they are brilliant but signing away options on your land is bonkers. The developers used this tactic during the tiger and borrowed on the strength of the options.
Tariffs and rebates have not been agreed with the government. In Britain the relevant minister cut the hell out of these and made solar unviable overnight.
Also it might affect your sfp and inheritance allowance for the next generation as you will be changing the status of your land.
Be very careful with these people. if it sounds to good to be true it generally is.
Forestry incentives are a better bet for marginal land at the moment

hurling_lad

Thanks for the replies.
In my case, the caution that you are advising is not really a big deal for me - the ground in question is of little value to my current farming enterprise (i.e. worst case scenario, the only thing that will be affected is the BPS payment).

Also, the ground is still in my father's name (he's giving me the yay or nay on the issue though), so no inheritance tax issues as of yet. In any case, the amount of CAT that might be payable if it didn't qualify for Ag relief would be dwarfed by the rental payment over 25 years (€900 to €1,000 per acre is the figure I've been given).

The Karen Walsh articles in the Examiner are very good - thanks for that.

The first step is to sign agreement to apply for a grid connection so I think I'll drive on with that for now.