Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. There is an indicative budget of €370 million available for the period 2023-2027, and all investments must be linked to Climate, Environment or Animal Welfare.

The Solar Capital Investment scheme, which launched on 22 February 2023, is one of the schemes under TAMS 3. It encourages the purchase of solar investments, thereby reducing dependence on fossil fuel energy by farmers. The Scheme has its own investment ceiling of €90,000 and will be grant aided at the enhanced rate of 60%.

TAMS is an On-Farm Investment Scheme which is co-funded by the EU. Under the current EU regulations and under the new CAP Strategic Plan, it is a strict requirement that the electricity generated annually from the installed solar PV system does notexceed the annual electricity demand of the farmyard including the dwelling house. However, there will be occasions, typically in summertime, where the electricity generated will surpass the electricity demand, and the surplus electricity is subsequently spilled over to the grid.

In these circumstances, this is permissible and furthermore, there is an obligation on the energy utility company to remunerate the farmer for this quantity of electricity. This spillover of generated electricity is catered for under the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG), which is available to all renewable generators, including farmers. The price paid for the spillover electricity is set by the energy provider under the Clean Export Guarantee.

This outcome is in keeping with the objective of the TAMS scheme to enable farmers to consume solar, PV-generated electricity on-site to meet part of their farm electricity demand, including the dwelling house.

Currently grant aid for solar investments in TAMS are for the purposes of farm consumption. In cases where the applicant wishes to apply for non-TAMS support, such as from SEAI, for a larger area of panels, the TAMS 3 unit must be a separate independent system if this additional support is being sought. If no additional non-TAMS support is sought, then the additional panels can be part of the TAMS system.

The electricity consumption of the dwelling house can be included 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. Only one dwelling house can be included on the Solar survey.

I believe that the suite of TAMS schemes is the best mechanism for ensuring that funding is targeted at the most appropriate enterprises, including those that focus on the renewable energy sector. I will also ensure that investment items and ceilings for grant aid in this sector continue to be reviewed on a regular basis.