Farm solar grants in Ireland
Two grants pay towards solar panels on Irish farms. TAMS 3 pays 60% of the cost, up to a maximum grant of €54,000. The SEAI grant covers larger systems and is doubled for applications until 6 July 2027. You cannot use both on the same system.
The TAMS 3 solar grant
| Detail | TAMS 3 solar |
|---|---|
| Grant rate | 60% of eligible costs |
| Investment ceiling | €90,000 per holding, separate from other TAMS 3 investments |
| Maximum grant | €54,000 |
| Largest system | 62 kWp |
| What it covers | Panels, inverter, mounting, wiring and battery storage |
| What it does not cover | Replacing the roof |
| Who can apply | Registered farmers with a herd number |
| Run by | Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine |
How to apply for TAMS 3
- Talk to your adviser. Your Teagasc or agricultural adviser is the first call. They help size the system and prepare the application.
- Apply online. The application goes to the Department of Agriculture through agfood.ie, with your herd number, farm details and the proposed system.
- Wait for approval. Do not buy equipment, sign a contract or start work until the approval letter arrives. The letter gives the deadline for finishing the work.
- Get quotes and install. Get two or three quotes from SEAI-registered installers. The installer applies to ESB Networks, which takes at least 4 weeks. Fitting takes 2 to 5 days.
- Claim the grant. Send in the invoices once the work is finished. The grant is paid after the documents are checked.
The whole process usually takes 3 to 6 months.
The SEAI grant for farms
The SEAI Non-Domestic Microgen Grant is open to farms, for systems up to 1,000 kWp. It pays a set amount per kWp. For applications from 7 October 2026 to 6 July 2027 the rates are doubled, up to a limit of 45% of the invoiced cost.
| System size | Standard grant | Applications to 6 July 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 kWp | €900 | €1,800 |
| 2 to 6 kWp | €1,800 at 2 kWp, €2,100 at 3 kWp, €2,400 at 4 to 6 kWp | €3,600 at 2 kWp, €4,200 at 3 kWp, €4,800 at 4 to 6 kWp |
| 7 to 20 kWp | €300 per kWp | €600 per kWp |
| 21 to 200 kWp | €200 per kWp | €400 per kWp |
| 201 to 1,000 kWp | €150 per kWp | €300 per kWp |
The most the grant pays is €162,600 at standard rates and €325,200 at the doubled rates. It does not cover battery storage.
TAMS 3 or the SEAI grant?
- TAMS 3: generally better for systems under about 50 kWp, and the only one of the two that pays towards a battery
- SEAI grant: the route for systems above 62 kWp, or when your TAMS 3 solar ceiling is already used
- Both: not allowed on the same system
See what each grant leaves you paying in the cost by system size.
Panels for the farmhouse
- From the shed: a TAMS 3 system on a farm building can supply one farmhouse on the same holding, if the applicant or a family member lives there
- On the house itself: that is a separate installation under the SEAI home solar grant
- Both: a farm can claim a farm grant for the buildings and the home grant for the house, because they are two systems