Anyone have experience with Solar and TAMS

PureBred · 08-10-2021 10:51am #1

Just wondering if anyone has recent experience on getting solar installed with a battery for home/agri use?

What type of system did you install
What was installation process
What was cost
How does grant work out?
Savings on electricity so far
Anything to look out for?

Thanks.

corglass · 08-10-2021 10:53am

Also interested in this. Are applications still open?

PureBred · 08-10-2021 12:04pm

Apparently so, 40% grant for non young farmers.

Ref prices from DEPT are: €1,253/kwp of solar PV + €1608 and for battery storage €703/kwh + €753.

I have appplied for a few quotes online so will see what they come back with.

Say my name · 08-10-2021 12:37pm

Does the Tams grant enable you to go "off grid" completely?

Reason I ask is I'm hearing a few with solar on farms and they're getting locked into getting a low % of their power from solar with some energy company then supplying the large % back and taking any excess power they have.

Seems like the energy companies are benefiting over the farmer.

With lithium batteries out now surely the scope is there to enable farmers go off grid with their electricity?

PureBred · 08-10-2021 12:57pm

I would say you would never be totally off grid, not in the west anyways with the sunlight during winter.

I have not heard of people getting "locked into getting a low % of their power from solar".

AFAIK the ability to sell extra electricity back to the grid was to be introduced this year, but I'm unsure of the progress here.

blackdog1 · 08-10-2021 10:25pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058212196/anyone-have-experience-with-solar-and-tams

Application went in for a 9kw system a few months ago will know by November if approved. You can go to 9kw on single phase after that you need to spend 6/7k on a piece of equipment that lets you go up to 100kw. Advisor told me i could only apply for 6kw of battery storage? I thinks there's a limit to this which is most annoying. I used AEI Ireland . can't recommend them yet as nothing is done and wont be until January id say. You need a scale drawing of the roof where your putting the panels and super impose the panels on the drawings.

kevthegaff · 08-10-2021 10:35pm

What's the repayment time on them?

blackdog1 · 08-10-2021 11:57pm

Think 5/6 years less if you have a big tax bill!

Pinsnbushings · 09-10-2021 9:43am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117996073#Comment_117996073

I signed up recently for a 6kw system and with grant aid and aca the payback is supposed to be around that if you take an electric price of 18c/kwh.

I was advised that battery storage isn't really worth it at the moment and that the feed in tariff will be very poor so the trick is to be in a position to use as much of the power generated as possible immediately. Will wait and see how it pans out.

K.G. · 09-10-2021 10:32am

Doing abit of homework on a solar pump at minute and I m just wondering what does the grant cover.just the panels or are batteries, pumps heaters included if they are supplied by the solar supplier.is there min and max size for tams

Pinsnbushings · 10-10-2021 1:37am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117996736#Comment_117996736

To be honest I'm not sure what specifically is covered under the grant. On a spend of roughly 12k In my situation my grant would be 3.5k. This system includes panels, smart monitoring system and hot water divertor.

I'm not sure what you are referring to in relation to pumps. My understanding is the panels produce electricity which can be used for whatever purpose.

Hard Knocks · 11-10-2021 8:37am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117999468#Comment_117999468

How long have you your setup in place

Have you needed to pull from the grid?

Pinsnbushings · 11-10-2021 1:36pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118003141#Comment_118003141

It's not in place yet, paid a deposit a while back, probably won't be fitted till next year. I would expect to still be using from the grid..they will provide very little over the winter months

blackdog1 · 11-10-2021 3:08pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118003141#Comment_118003141

A 9kw system with 14kw of battery storage will save you around 2k a year maybe more now with increasing electricity prices . So calculate your annual bill and you'll see how much you would have a buy to get off the grid.

Hard Knocks · 11-10-2021 3:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118004294#Comment_118004294

Was thinking that too, it’s great to get real life comments

We’ve solar for hot water which is great, but there’s days from Apr to Oct where you have to boost

kevthegaff · 11-10-2021 6:25pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118005005#Comment_118005005

What sort of investment was made for those savings blackdog1?

blackdog1 · 11-10-2021 9:14pm

Haven't put anything up yet so they are only possible savings. That system should cost about 20k. With vat back and grant it should be around 11 then tax break on top. Problem is they have a limit on kw of batteries you can apply for in the grant which makes no sense. Costs could have gone up 2 since...

Say my name · 11-10-2021 9:36pm

Just seen my local dairy/cattle steelwork and parlour fitter has become an agent for solar panels and systems.

Pinsnbushings · 11-10-2021 9:46pm

I think they will be very common place over the next few years..noticed quite a few houses with panels put on lately..if you have tams grant and are paying tax at 40 percent they seem a bit of a no brainer on a dairy farm..If your farm is linked to the dwelling House it would also help which was the main reason I signed up here. I hope it will be a little bit of insurance with esb rising steadily

farmersfriend · 11-10-2021 9:47pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118006642#Comment_118006642

Found that out today too

Grueller · 13-10-2021 11:05am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118006642#Comment_118006642

Ibar?

Say my name · 13-10-2021 5:49pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118012924#Comment_118012924

Yep.

In the area too. You probably heard Pinergy bought Solar Electric earlier this year. We're a great county now for the solar.😅

JohnChadwick · 13-10-2021 9:47pm

Can you put panels on a frame near ground level under tams, as opposed to on a shed roof....?

Pinsnbushings · 13-10-2021 10:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118016584#Comment_118016584

Think you can but its more expensive as far as I know, you also need to make sure stock couldn't get in at them

alps · 14-10-2021 8:30am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118005005#Comment_118005005

Can you recharge the batteries at night from the grid? ie from night rate electricity?

Might allow for full evening milking and cooling from sunlight during the day and full am milking and cooling from night rate..

blackdog1 · 14-10-2021 10:47am

Again only in the grant stage. But yes it's can charge the batteries on night rate if the panels don't charge them. You won't go off the grid without a 60-100k spend.

Pinsnbushings · 14-10-2021 12:09pm

The guy that sold me the system basically said the batteries aren't viable yet, the cost of the battery over the lifetime won't pay for itself or at best break even..

But look everyone's situation may be different.

SouthWesterly · 14-10-2021 12:24pm

You guys should look at the renewable energy forum. Lots of info there on systems.

I got a 3.24kw system in and now looking at doing a DIY job to expand it.

Hard Knocks · 14-10-2021 5:02pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118018812#Comment_118018812

How much roof space did it take up?

SouthWesterly · 14-10-2021 9:05pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118020584#Comment_118020584

I got 9 panels. It takes up probably half my roof. I'm looking at doing an additional DIY job in the field I have at the back of the house. Not sure yet on size

Hard Knocks · 14-10-2021 9:32pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118021073#Comment_118021073

Thanks

We’ve cattle shed roof south to Southeast facing which I would like to use whenever we do go

PureBred · 15-10-2021 8:57am

Got a quote for a 4.45Kw system, with a Solis 5.0kW Inverter and a 3.5Kw Battery. Coming in over 10k. How does that sound?

blackdog1 · 15-10-2021 1:04pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118022340#Comment_118022340

Is that plus vat?

SouthWesterly · 16-10-2021 8:59am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118022340#Comment_118022340

Go to the renewable energy forum for quotes and feedback. There's years of discussion on pricing and system specs.

PureBred · 18-10-2021 2:50pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118023487#Comment_118023487

Including VAT. I'm going to price up without battery too.

kevthegaff · 18-10-2021 10:00pm

Ina windy spot in the mountains are they secure on a shed, also do they still generate in overcast conditions

PureBred · 19-10-2021 4:30pm

Just found out that TAMS is a non-runner for me:

In the case of Solar Photovoltaic(PV) panels, 100% of the electricity generated from the panels must be consumed on the applicant’s holding for farming purposes.

It falls under TAMS II- Organic Capital Investment Scheme in case anyone is wondering.

Pinsnbushings · 19-10-2021 9:45pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118043154#Comment_118043154

Are you definite on that? If so my application won't be accepted as the house and farm is on the same meter. The agent I had the agreement with said nothing about that to me??

PureBred · 20-10-2021 8:43am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118045111#Comment_118045111

I was just quoting from the TAMS documentation, so it seems so. A PV installer is checking it out for me.

Pinsnbushings · 20-10-2021 11:26am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118046269#Comment_118046269

OK thanks it was the first I heard of it so Id be interested to hear what your installer says.

Say my name · 31-10-2021 1:18pm

I was just thinking probably the optimum system would be battery storage for two days use. Solar and wind charge up backed up again by charge up on night time rate supply.

Don't know how that'd work though. The current systems seemingly cut supply of power from solar panels to battery and maybe all in event of power cut. It's not a cut off switch at the meter. (well that's what a solar company posted online).

graememk · 01-11-2021 7:03pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118043154#Comment_118043154

I wonder does that mean you can't put panels on a farm that's connected to the farmhouse.

That being said, I've put panels on my sheds (8kwp) and put it under the house grant (€1800). Worked with a local installer in the NW, done some of the donkey work myself (running cables etc). and spent a day putting panels on the roof as a 3rd pair of hands/telehandler driver.

All in the Solar PV install costed me 3850+vat. (Also will have accelerated capital allowances on it too)

Tracking my usage, for the house and farm, on solar only is about 10yrs payback.

Battery system is a completely separate inverter with a DIY battery from ali Express. Payback on that is coming in at about 7 yrs.

I'll have better numbers in January as them paybacks are calculated on Jan-Jun

Panels and batteries cover nearly all my day rate use from April-Sept, and most of the night rate use in may-july. (except for the EV!)

Hard Knocks · 01-11-2021 10:18pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118103375#Comment_118103375

We’ll done, it’d be great to hear how you get on

blackdog1 · 02-11-2021 2:44pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118103375#Comment_118103375

How much battery storage did you put in ?

Timmaay · 02-11-2021 11:20pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118103375#Comment_118103375

10yrs payback on a largely DIY install, so any sort of professional installation is probably at best going to be a 15yr+ payback?, thats still the main stumbling block for me with solar, I want any of my farm investments to be more like 6 or 7years max.

kevthegaff · 02-11-2021 11:48pm

What would a 15 kw turbine be like?

graememk · 03-11-2021 9:53am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118106938#Comment_118106938

I've 10kwh, I could extend to 20 for about 1k if I get the batteries at the right price (currently it's about 1.4, but that would only benefit me oct-feb with charging on night rate)

Our yard isn't a big user of electricity, biggest thing now is the new barley crusher. And the solar is helping a bit there, but it's now Oct, days are dark and short. I'm charging the batteries on night rate. All the barley was treated into the shed with solar with plenty to spare!

The solar install was professional, I was just the go-for! Over the 2 days they were here I prob sped them up by a day. My install was a bit more costly than normal as I ended up putting the panels about 50 m away from the inverter, which put about 200-300 onto the cost of it alone just for the cable! There was no (suitable) power on the shed, and nowhere really suitable to put the inverter there either. So panels are on the silo pit shed and inverter is in the barn!

I would say a lot of the adverts for savings are exaggerated to say the least, to save the money you actually need to be able to use the power.

A lot of farm investments never pay back (but a lot makes life a lot easier) but this one will - even just for the house it's worth it.

I'd say if your interested get a few quote, and know what electric you actually use.

blackdog1 · 03-11-2021 8:15pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118043154#Comment_118043154

This seems to be misleading. I was onto my Solar Rep and he says you can be connected to a domestic dwelling but the first 5000( not sure on the number) units you export to the grid will not be paid for. So really it will be up to you if you want to pay more upfront and get paid more long term or not.

graememk · 03-11-2021 8:46pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118114604#Comment_118114604

That's misleading too... There's no feed in tarrif (for export) at all, all there is only a consult done so far and nothing really announced yet. It's expected to be around 5c/ kwh. And a smart meter is needed too, and the way the current tarrifs are, your better off on a day night rate than a smart tariff...

Anyone have experience with Solar and TAMS

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