Are you thinking about installing a solar panel system for your farm but unsure which option best suits your needs? Choosing the right solar panel system is crucial for ensuring your farm's energy demands are met efficiently and cost-effectively.
Solar panel systems offer a sustainable and reliable energy source, reducing dependency on traditional power grids while significantly lowering energy bills. They also align with environmental goals, making your farm operations eco-friendly and future-ready.
In this blog, we will explore how to choose the right solar panel system for your farm's needs, examine the key factors that influence your choice, and provide you with clear guidance to select the best option for long-term benefits.
How to Choose the Right Solar Panel System for Your Farm's Needs?
Solar energy is rapidly becoming an essential resource for modern agriculture. As farmers contend with rising energy costs and increasing environmental pressures, solar power presents a sustainable and cost-effective solution.
The Basics of Solar Energy
Solar panels, or photovoltaic (PV) panels, convert sunlight into electricity. Made from semiconductor materials like silicon, these panels absorb sunlight to generate an electric current.
This direct current (DC) is then converted into alternating current (AC) by an inverter, making it suitable for everyday electrical equipment and grid integration. This simple yet effective technology forms the foundation of solar energy use in agriculture.
Here are different types of solar panels:
- Grid-Tied Systems: These are connected to the local utility grid, allowing farms to use solar power when available while relying on the grid during low production periods. While cost-effective, they do not function during power outages.
- Off-Grid Systems: Ideal for remote locations without grid access, these systems store excess energy in batteries for use during cloudy days or nighttime. Though independent, they involve higher costs due to battery and backup generator requirements.
- Hybrid Systems: Combining grid-tied and off-grid features, these systems include battery storage while maintaining a grid connection. They provide energy independence and backup power, making them versatile and reliable for modern farms.
Benefits of Solar Energy in Agriculture
Solar energy reduces farming costs by powering energy-intensive activities like irrigation, cooling, and machinery, replacing expensive fossil fuels with a sustainable alternative.
Over time, solar systems offer substantial savings and improve farm efficiency. Reliable and consistent, solar energy removes dependency on fluctuating fuel markets and ensures uninterrupted operations during outages.
It also supports eco-friendly farming by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable practices like solar-powered irrigation and precision agriculture. Investing in solar improves farm property value, attracting buyers with its reduced costs and environmental benefits, offering a clear competitive advantage.
How Can We Help You Maintain and Optimise Solar Panels on Agricultural Properties?
Selecting the right solar panel system for your farm requires a thorough understanding of several key considerations. Each of these factors plays a crucial role in determining the efficiency, sustainability, and overall cost-effectiveness of your investment.
Here, we explore these crucial aspects:
Planning Permission
In Ireland, installing solar panels is generally permitted without formal approval if they meet specific conditions. Ground-mounted systems must not exceed 25m² or 2m in height, while roof-mounted panels are limited to 50m² or 50% of the roof area, whichever is smaller.
Larger installations or buildings with conservation status require planning permission, so consulting your local planning authority is essential to avoid complications.
VAT (Flat-Rate Farmers)
Flat-rate farmers can claim back VAT on solar PV systems used primarily for farming and benefit from the Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA) scheme, which allows the cost to be written off against tax in the first year.
Eligible systems must be listed on the Triple E Product Register and meet SEAI efficiency standards. These schemes reduce costs and encourage energy-efficient practices.
TAMS Support
TAMS provides grants of up to 40%, or 60% for young qualified farmers, for solar PV systems up to 11kW. Pig, poultry, and horticulture sectors can also access funding without size limitations.
Farmers should verify their insurance, panel quality, and warranties, particularly for ammonia erosion in specific farming environments.
Grid Connections
For systems up to 3.68kW (single-phase) or 11.04kW (three-phase), ESB Networks’ "inform and fit" policy simplifies the connection process. Larger systems, up to 50kW, require a more complex process and potential upgrades to existing connections.
Early consultation with electricians and installers ensures compliance and smooth grid integration.
Using Solar Energy
Solar energy is most effective for farms with high daytime electricity demands, especially during summer. A 4kW system on a 30m² south-facing roof can produce around 3,300kWh annually, while a 50kW system on 250-300m² can generate approximately 41,500kWh.
Ground-mounted systems offer optimal alignment but may require planning permission. Aligning energy usage with solar output ensures maximum efficiency.
Energy Storage
While solar PV systems rarely store energy directly, power diverters can redirect excess energy to hot water cylinders. Dairy farms benefit from this for tasks like evening hot washes.
Battery storage is useful for off-peak charging and daytime usage but is unnecessary for farms with constant energy demand, like pig and poultry units. These solutions improve efficiency and reduce grid reliance.
Conclusion
Choosing solar energy for agricultural operations is a smart, sustainable choice that reduces costs, ensures energy independence, and supports eco-friendly farming practices.
From understanding solar panel basics to exploring system types and benefits like cost savings and environmental impact, solar power transforms the way farms operate. With options like TAMS grants and energy storage solutions, adopting solar energy is both practical and financially rewarding.
Want to transform your farm with renewable energy? Contact Nusolas Energy today for expert advise, customised solar solutions, and smooth installations designed to meet your farm’s unique energy needs. Let’s power your farm’s future together.
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