Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Regarding energy and solar panel supports under TAMS, there is a requirement and conditionality where we are using EU funding that any energy produced be for on-farm use as opposed to export onto the grid. We are establishing a separate funding stream for energy production to the grid to ensure there is no impact on other TAMS applications. This scheme will allow for battery storage capacity, which will help farmers whose usage goes up and down at different times of the day. TAMS will be positive in supporting farmers to generate and use their electricity at farm level and in matching their needs in that regard to the level of TAMS-supported solar investment. Alongside these schemes, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications is bringing forward a feed-in tariff to pay for energy that is coming off solar panels into the grid, which can be done separately.

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