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Four farmers with their own solar electricity projects have written to Minister for Climate Action Richard Bruton, highlighting concerns for the participation of farmers in renewable energy production.
Joseph Hennessy and James Keogh from Co Wexford, Michael Quirk from Co Cork and Peter Dunne from Co Louth, all with projects between 4MW and 5MW, wrote the letter after meeting Department of Climate Action officials last month.
Although they have been moved onto a new queuing system to obtain a grid connection from ESB Networks designed to favour more advanced projects, the farmers have concerns over proposed connection cost increases.
To obtain a connection and enter an auction for the upcoming Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS), the farmers warned that they would have to lock money into new “bonds”.
“We have already demonstrated our commitment to the projects since 2014 through a significant financial outlay,” they wrote. “We don’t need an extra cost to prove this.”
For our projects to be successful, we need certainty and a fair price
They also called for farmer-led projects to be specifically supported in the first RESS auction, rather than be left to compete with multinationals to provide renewable electricity at the lowest possible cost: “For our projects to be successful, we need certainty and a fair price – larger developers will enter multiple projects to auction in the hope of a percentage of success, we don’t have that luxury.”
Tillage farmer Quirke is planning solar panels alongside his existing wind turbines and grid connection.
“This is owned by a local farmer, not an investment fund in Dubai,” he said.
“We regard this as an extension to our existing farm,” said Hennessy, an electrical engineer farming beef, sheep and tillage with his brothers and planning to continue grazing on their 25ac site near Enniscorthy.
Hennessy said there had been Government promises to support locally-owned projects since they first explored solar in 2014, and their project would struggle unless they were accommodated in RESS.
“There is an opportunity here for farmers to own their own projects and to offset their own carbon footprint while continuing to farm their own lands. Monies and jobs would remain local,” he added.
Quizzed by farmers at the IFA AGM last week, Minister Bruton said the date for the first RESS auction would be set in a Government climate plan due next month.
He said microgeneration, such as solar panels on a shed roof, was important to help a business “meet some of its own needs in a sustainable way,” whereas setting up panels to sell electricity into the grid must prove “a cost-effective way of delivering renewable energy” before being supported.
He also acknowledged a role for community engagement and ownership in renewables, without elaborating.
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