Big south-facing sheds, three-phase already in, and load that runs all day.
Parlour, refrigeration and water heating all draw when the array generates.
Farms are among the best solar sites in the country and among the least exploited. Large south-facing shed roofs, three-phase connections already in place, and a load profile dominated by equipment that runs through the day.
Milking parlours, bulk tank refrigeration, vacuum pumps, water heating, grain drying, ventilation and lighting all draw heavily during daylight hours. That’s the same window in which a rooftop array generates, which means a high proportion of what you produce gets used on the farm rather than exported.
Dairy farms in particular are close to an ideal case. Refrigeration and water heating are among the largest electrical loads in Irish agriculture, and both run at times that align well with generation.
Farm buildings bring considerations a domestic roof does not.
Farm buildings bring their own considerations, and they need addressing before anything goes on a roof:
Grant support is available through the Non-Domestic Microgeneration Grant, and separate agricultural investment schemes have supported solar on farms at various points. We confirm what’s currently open to you during feasibility.
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Farm solar is sized against the parlour, not the shed. We look at when the load actually occurs — milking times, cooling cycles, water heating schedules — and size the array so the bulk of generation is consumed on site.
Where the load profile leaves a gap, there are usually practical ways to close it. Shifting water heating into daylight hours, timing grain drying around generation, or adding a diverter to dump surplus into hot water all raise self-consumption without adding much cost.
Installation has to fit the year, not the other way round. We schedule around calving, silage, harvest and whatever else can’t move, and we work in and around live agricultural buildings without interrupting the operation.
Feasibility, load assessment, structural check, system design, grant application, ESB Networks connection application, installation and commissioning — all under one contract.
Not directly. Asbestos sheeting needs to be dealt with properly first, and that’s a specialist job with its own regulations. We’ll advise on the options.
It will offset a substantial share of daytime consumption. Night-time load still comes from the grid unless storage is added.
Most farm installations are three-phase and that’s straightforward. We confirm your existing supply as part of the survey.
It can, which is why mounting hardware and cable management need specifying for the environment rather than taken off a generic list.
The Non-Domestic Microgeneration Grant applies, and agricultural investment schemes have supported solar at various times. We’ll confirm what’s currently available.
Call 051 850722. We’ll size it against the parlour and work around calving, silage and harvest.
