Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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81. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for the ramping-up of energy production on Irish farms and in particular, the use of anaerobic digesters. [53252/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this important topic. The next decade is going to be the most exciting in the space on on-farm energy generation.

As part of the 13% increase in funding for agriculture announced as part of Budget 2023, I committed to allocating €3 million for each of the next four years, a total of €12 million, to kick-start a farm-based Anaerobic Digestion sector in Ireland.

This is in recognition of the importance of Anaerobic Digestion and the production of biomethane in providing a land diversification opportunity for farmers, as reflected in the agreed sectoral emission ceiling of 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for agriculture.

My officials are working in partnership with colleagues from the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) to realise the potential of indigenously produced biomethane in Ireland in contributing to the decarbonisation of the gas grid and supporting large gas users to lower their carbon footprint, enhancing security of supply, and providing a diversification of activity and income for farmers.

Imagine, by the end of the decade, our kettles and phones might be powered by electricity generatedon farms. That is an exciting prospect for our farmers and our overall economy

The Climate Action Plan 2023 will provide further detail in this regard.

In relation to increasing energy production on farms, currently, grant aid is provided through TAMS to assist 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.The solar PV systems currently grant-aided under TAMS include Solar PV Panels and Solar PV Rechargeable Batteries and Solar Panels (Solar Thermal) for water heating under the Pig and Poultry Capital Investment Scheme.

The maximum size of panel eligible for grant aid currently is 62kW for the Pig and Poultry Scheme (PPIS) and 11kW for all other eligible TAMS II schemes. Grant aid for solar investments in TAMS is for farm consumption use only.

I was delighted to recently announce as part of the budget that the electricity consumption of the dwelling house can be included with immediate effect on the solar survey as part of the holding for sizing the Solar PV installation. The dwelling house must be occupied by the herd owner or family member and situated on the holding. This is now open for applications.

To encourage further increased take-up in solar applications, I am proposing to make further changes to the scheme. This includes increasing the kilowatts for solar applications in TAMS 3 to 30 kilowatts from 11 kilowatts currently.

This will bring in more high-energy intensive farms and cover their electricity usage through on-farm generation. We are also retaining the current limit of 62 kilowatts for the Pigs and Poultry Investment Scheme. Furthermore, it is proposed that the grant rate will increase to a 60% grant and a standalone investment ceiling of €90,000 for solar panels on farms from 2023 onwards.

The changes are subject to approval of the Rural Development Plan (RDP) amendment by the European Commission. The amendment is currently with the Monitoring Committee of the RDP for their views before its formal submission to the Commission.

It should also be remembered that there are other state supports for the installation of solar panels, including from the SEAI and all farmers should be examining all options for support. This can be installed in tandem with the TAMs investment for those farmers who wish to do this at scale and is a further option for those keen to explore renewable energy generation.