TAMS solar panel grant

anthony500_1

I just spotted an article dated today in the ifj that 60% grants of upto 90k will be made available from January 2023........ Wonder will this be a good time to get into solar. Will the esbn pay a feed in tariff if your over producing, it could be a great way to make an investment to make extra income if your not a big consumer of electricity once the units are paid for.........

Siamsa Sessions

I bumped into a man at the ploughing who was selling solar panels, or was a solar consultant, something like that.

He said always start at the end: talk to the ESB first and ask (1) how much they'll pay for your electricity and (2) how long of a contract they'll give you where that price is fixed. That is, how much are you guaranteed before what they pay you could drop?

If that adds up for you, then you can start to talk to solar providers and look at TAMS grants. As far as I know, getting a TAMS grant affects whether or not you can get paid for selling surplus electricity to the ESB. Just something else to check out.

I'll be looking at solar panels myself in the New Year. It's possibly a source of income but there's a few bits and pieces to check out before any money is invested in them.

fulldnod

As it stands u will not be paid for excess electricity if u go the tams route, I don't think this will change in tams 3

Siamsa Sessions

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119967897#Comment_119967897

The Govt giveth and the Govt taketh away 😀

fulldnod

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119968464#Comment_119968464

Less tax for them, they have to keep control

endainoz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058274849/tams-solar-panel-grant

I'm unsure of the point in actually doing it if you can't sell it back to the national grid and you can't use it domestically. The 40% installation you'd still have to pay would be way more expensive than just continuing to pay for power as normal. Am I missing something here?

amacca

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119969582#Comment_119969582

Wondering the same myself

Sure there's feck all benefit if that's the case.......I'd consider it if I could sell back to the grid

That way it might eventually pay for itself + state at least gets less draw and maybe even a net contribution to the grid in some cases for each person takes them up on it....was that not the point?

Green&Red

With the TAMS its probably only viable if you have a summer load and use batteries, so dairy, chillers and milking machine when solar is best

endainoz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119970079#Comment_119970079

It's a real shoot yourself in the foot move alright, even if one could use it domestically if the shed was on the same grid as the family home for example. But this way only really leaves it as an option for a select few.

roosterman71

I was listening to a lad from the IFA I think on Midlands 103 a couple of weeks back and he said that the limitation of not being allowed use it for domestic purposes is gone, or going shortly. Then you can use the power generated from the panels for the farm and house, and avail of TAMS. Plus the limitation around selling excess is expected to be lifted too.

The one thing he did say was size the system for the amount of power you use. The payback time is exponentially shorter if you use all the power generated yourself vs selling excess.

https://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/pv_solar/ifa-and-bord-gais-energy-launch-new-20221207

Podcast of chat on Midlands 103 (12:40 in)

https://www.midlands103.com/podcasts/country-life-with-mj-clery/episode/wednesday-30th-november1/

endainoz

Well that's definitely good news, it's something I'd definitely look into now.

anthony500_1

Yes I think the piece in the ifj said it was looking like you could fit them on the farm house as well as sheds, I've a fairly new house that uses electric (air 2 water) so I'll def be interested if it's a thing 1. you can export excess to the grid, and be paid or at least get credits for winter months when the solar would not be producing a whole lot,and 2. If it can be used for the farm house as I wouldnt have much use on the farm alone bar a few l.e.d lights and evey now and then a few electric tools.

Green&Red

You won't be allowed use them in your house if they're part of the farm supply.

You can't have two metered supplies in the one building for safety reasons. Electrician could come, isolate the power at the main switch board and then come across a live cable.

Not even in the national grids remit to allow such a thing

Pinsnbushings

We have grant approval and signed up for solar panels with tams, we only have 1 metre in the dwelling house..the panel companies engineer was out and nobody raised it as an issue yet anyway.

The guy selling it was using the fact it would be used during the day for powering the house as a positive. I'm sure he was just making the sale but anyway its too late for us to turn back now.

Hard Knocks

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119972441#Comment_119972441

Fair play to you, allot of us are thinking of it, you’re making it happen

Pinsnbushings

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119972849#Comment_119972849

I actually paid the deposit on them November 21 believe it or not, but I hadn't the shed built and since the shed is finished, I'm finding it hard to get them to come and install them, whether they are fierce busy or what I don't know.

Dunno whether they will be a good job or what but they have tax benefits in that you right off the capital in year 1, also my parents are around during the day so hopefully they will be able to utilise the solar with a bit of planning for cooking, washing, dishwasher etc.

Wildsurfer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119972307#Comment_119972307

I don't get you mean by this, my dwelling is fed from meter in milking parlour. Why would you need a second meter?

Green&Red

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119985239#Comment_119985239

If it's fed from that same meter that's sound. But if you have a separate meter in the house to the one on the farm you can't cross supply

SodiumCooled

https://www.farmersjournal.ie/more-cash-for-tams-in-solar-panel-push-725471

The farm dwelling house is now eligible for solar under TAMS. I see nothing to say it has to be the same meter as the farm, as if it was then there would never have been anything to stop you feeding of them anyway.

To me this means you can either install on sheds (connected to the farm meter) and on the house (connected to a domestic meter) or if you want only on the house (domestic meter) and use it just domestically. Unless there are T&Cs that I haven’t seen.

Green&Red

Its not up to TAMS T&Cs, there are ETCI regs. If you have two separate MPRNs you won't be able to cross supply

SodiumCooled

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119986599#Comment_119986599

Hi, I am not suggesting cross supply, I am suggesting a totally separate install for the house and farm (or only the house and not bother with the farm) since the TAMS now covers the farm house.

kollegeknight

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119985686#Comment_119985686

Is 60% for all eligible farmers- young qualified farmers? And the rest of us 40%?

timple23

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119988646#Comment_119988646

Everyone will get a 60% grant.

minerleague

Can you still get solar panels that heat water for house or is it all electricity generating panels now and use electricity for heating etc?

blackdog1

Your thinking of evacuated tubes. Don't think they are there but you might try seai

Silverdream

Might be a silly question but would you get the SEAI €2400 grant on top of the TAMS grant?

endainoz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120015254#Comment_120015254

Not too sure about that one, I would assume no seen as the 60% would be pretty generous but I would be great if it could be used. Another question would be if it would be possible to hook this system up to two separate domestic houses? Or am I being too ambitious? 😂

Silverdream

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120025716#Comment_120025716

Don't see how you can feed two seperate houses from the one set of solar as it's tied to the ESB meter. You'd be better off getting two separate grants. Also if you have a seperate meter for the farm then that is the one that is connected to the Solar not the house.

I spoke to my ag planner today, he wasn't 100% but thinks there should be no reason you wouldn't get the SEAI grant if it is being hooked up to the house meter box. He is going to find out for sure but probably won't have an answer till after the Christmas.

I got a quote for 9.2kw of Solar panels and grid tie Inverter on a ground based system where I supply the concrete slab and ducting to the house.

€16k all in. So estimate the slab at €2k it's costing me €18k before grants.

After TAMS that reduces to €6,400. If I get the SEAI grant on top again then that'll reduce it to €4000.

Another new question that I didn't get an answer for but afaik even with it servicing the farm I should get paid for any Electric I feed to the grid.

endainoz

Yeah I'd assume it would have to be two separate systems. The home house is on the same system as the shed so that would be the main system. The other system would be an (as yet unbuilt) new house that would obviously be on its own connection.

I think it's a no brainer to look farther into this though, and these are all fairly elaborate systems in terms of size and the amount of panels.

K.G.

Whats the story with certifying the roof to take the panels.is it left up to the installer to acess the roof.are they putting them on timber roofs,12 x3 s and 6x3 s with railway rail uprights

Silverdream

Some info was released by the dept this week. Seems that the Solar installation contractor can do the TAMs application, you do not need to use an agri advisor.

The contractor is coming out to me next week, the plan is to submit the application and wait the 6 weeks+ for approval. still no info about the seai grant, but I'm going to try and get that one too.

Say my name

If you get the TAMS grant you can sell excess back to the grid now.

Agreement on sale price is between the electric company and yourself. So previously an electric provider was picked on electricity cost. Now sale price of excess electricity from the panels will also have to be considered.

Anyone with three phase will be allowed more panels and capacity to sell back to the grid.

alps

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120135637#Comment_120135637

Where are you getting this info Say?

Might be small opportunity to get a realistic price on panels before the onslaught happens..

Silverdream

That's great news if you can sell back onto the grid. Hopefully it will be at the unit rate that they charge you!!

Say my name

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120135652#Comment_120135652

Local Dairy teagasc / solar business talk in the last few days. And the info was seemingly only days old at that stage from the dept.

Everyone will be at it now.

Silverdream

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120135744#Comment_120135744

As long as the rag doesn't have it on the front page then there will still be time to get ahead of the herd

Pinsnbushings

Mine installed since Christmas, not doing a huge amount yet but still generating a bit..great news on reselling to the grid..pardon the pun but panels will go through the roof now one would assume.. if anybody would like to be referred to the guys that did mine pm me..was happy with the install team to be fair.

qaz123

Any updates on how to use tams grant to install solar PV

blackdog1

Just got paid my 40% from last year. Just a word of warning. By the time you get do all the paperwork, get approval you won't be installing untill August because there will be such a demand for solar you'll be waiting for an installer. Before you pay anything, ask when they will install!. Otherwise you can forget about any savings this year. Also look at you sheds now and see what's getting light. The sun is low from November to February and you need to plan for this when choosing a site or you will produce nothing tangible in these months.

qaz123

Anybody any feedback on applying for Tams grant for solar PV,

Did solar company complete all paperwork for agfood or did you use your farm advisor?

Anyone have any quotes they are willing to share

jaymla627

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120136570#Comment_120136570

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120615081#Comment_120615081

14k incl vat for a 9 kw panel system with a 6kw invertor installed last month, delighted with its output just about to hit a 1000kw produced in 25 days, icing on the cake is we are using 98% of power the panels are generating

blackdog1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120615493#Comment_120615493

I've the same system as you Jay with 15kw of battery storage. The only way you can achieve 98% is running an ice builder during the day to suck up excess electricity but when the sun's not out you will be drawing off the grid , so I would say you need a battery system to counter this problem. therefore when the sun is not out your ice builder draws from the battery and when it is out it will charge the battery while also recharging the ice builder. I specifically got a smaller compressor on my Ice builder for this purpose.

jaymla627

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120616069#Comment_120616069

Ice Bank compressors here are running regardless, we have a liscarrol silo tank that's cooled by the ice-bank also recirculating water, re the battery storage at 15kw, what kind of cost are the batteries , toying with the idea of putting in another 9kw system with 6kw invertor and battery storage plus add this system to heat the hot water, on night rate here so would charge the batteries on night rate to use for a.m milking and for p.m milking we are using 30kw so it would take the harm out of p.m milking also

blackdog1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120616603#Comment_120616603

Batteries were around 6k for just under 15kw early last year. Think the max I'd go solar with extra panels is 15 kw as batteries are too expensive. Next bit of kit I'm looking at is a biomass boiler that could hear the water for the parlor and heat the farm house. Get rid of the cost of heating oil. Solar is great but there is a limit and in the winter it's really poor

Hard Knocks

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120616696#Comment_120616696

Is there anything that can be done to store some of the summer energy to reduce winter imports

jaymla627

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120616740#Comment_120616740

Re renewables, no but using the likes of kinsale to store lng in the summer months and distribute it in the winter makes alot of sensehttps://www.irishtimes.com/business/2022/11/02/defer-kinsale-pipeline-decommissioning-says-energy-company/

roosterman71

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120616764#Comment_120616764

Makes sense but Eamon Ryan is dead set against LNG so won't happen unless a) Greens are booted out and some sensible person is in charge that can overcome green lobbying or b) we're frozen solid and experiencing power outages due to some issues with the current arrangement of getting gas in via the UK

amacca

would the feed in tariffs make this worthwhile if you use feck all energy in the yard? fencer, an occasional light, that's about it

Pinsnbushings

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120618897#Comment_120618897

No I don't think so, but sure you'd need to do your own figures..being in the high tax rate and availing of the grant will help but you still need to use a large portion of the power I believe

staples7

anyone recommend any particular solar companies, cork direction? Newly built parlour any advice?

staples7

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119987311#Comment_119987311

One of the companies ive been speaking to suggested this could be done. I had mentioned it as 2 operate jobs. Ie solar for my house, then a separate system for the yard under TAMS. If it can, happy days