Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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629. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration will be given to one proposal in relation to the fitting of solar panels on all farm buildings and this energy being sold back to the ESB as a way of generating more green energy and passive income for farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62724/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Microgeneration has an important role to play in empowering and driving engagement and participation of not only farmers but communities and domestic households in the generation of renewable electricity as part of the energy transition.

To help encourage on-farm renewable technology uptake and usage, my Department provides grant aid through the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS II) to assist our farmers in maximising their contribution to the production of renewable energy through the installation of Solar PV technology along with battery storage on Irish farms.

Solar energy for on-farm use is grant aided under the Animal Welfare Nutrient Storage and Safety Scheme, Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme, the Organic Capital Investment Scheme and the Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme measures under TAMS.

The solar PV systems grant aided under TAMS includes Solar PV Panels and Solar PV Rechargeable Batteries and Solar Panels for water heating under the Pigs and Poultry scheme.

This scheme continues to support our farmers in maximising their contribution to the displacement of energy demand through the installation of Solar PV technology along with battery storage on Irish farms across the country. There is no provision under current TAMS legislation to allow the selling of excess energy, grant aid is available for on farm use only.