With many international delegates at the Energy Cork conference, it was clear that developers see potential for solar energy production in Ireland. While there are many opportunities in the area, the policy framework surrounding solar is not yet clear.

“The possibilities are endless, from ground-mounted to roof-mounted, for farmers in particular,” said Michael Quirk, chairman of Energy Cork. “It looks like the roof-mounted option with a feed-in tariff is going to be very advantageous in 12 to 18 months' time depending on the attitude of the Department."

Listen to an interview with Michael Quirk in our podcast below:

Roof-mounted solar panels are ideal for a farmer who does not want to enter into a long-term lease on their land for the ground-mounted option.

“It’s no secret that there has been an explosion in the dairying industry in Ireland in the last three or four years and the country is covered in what would be considered over-engineered cow sheds," said Quirk, who is also a wind farm developer and tillage farmer. "They’re perfect platforms for solar energy. Hopefully that opportunity will be availed of.”

Threats

It is as yet unknown what the tariffs or pricing structures would be to supply electricity to the grid from roof-mounted solar panels.

“You wouldn’t advise anyone to jump in yet, unless they were large off-takers of power,” said Quirk, who also owns IQ Solar, a company developing solar energy projects in Ireland. “It will all come down to the feed-in tariff. What would be nice from a farming perspective would be planning exemption for a start, the ability to connect in to 1020kV lines on the farm and low connection costs. We need to see the removal of Chinese tariffs into Europe so the panels will become cheaper again, even though they’ve fallen by 80% over the last three years.”

With a large number of connection applications to the ESB for ground-mounted projects “it looks like farmers have been signing options with development companies. So I guess that ground-mounted revolution is about to happen as well.”

Below is drone footage of a 15 megawatt solar PV park on Bilsham Farm, West Sussex, UK. The 85 acre park was constructed by BNRG Renewables.

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Energy Cork shines the light on solar

More to follow on the legal implications of solar agreements at www.farmersjournal.ie this Thursday.