The objective of the Solar Capital Investment Scheme, which is a measure in TAMS 3, is to encourage on-farm renewable technology uptake and to lower the energy costs at farm level. The electricity consumption of the dwelling house can be included on the solar survey as part of the holding for sizing the Solar PV when submitting the TAMS application.
Issues relating to the linking of farm and farmhouse bills would come under the responsibility of the Department of Environment, Climate and Communication (DECC), and are not under the remit of my Department.
In order to encourage farmers to consume solar PV generated electricity onsite to meet their farm electricity demand, including the dwelling house, it is permissible for excess electricity generated to spill over onto the grid and for the farmer to receive remuneration for that spillover quantity.
This spillover of generated electricity is paid for under the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG), which is available to all renewable energy generators, including farmers. The price for the spillover electricity is set by the energy provider under the Clean Export Guarantee.
TAMS 3 support is limited to the size of the Solar PV system recommended/established on foot of the solar survey. If a farmer wishes to install a larger area of panels, he/she can do so, but the additional capacity beyond that specified in the survey will not be grant aided under TAMS. If a farmer wishes to receive support for the additional area, he/she can do so, for example through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, by installing a separate energy generation system in respect of that additional capacity.
