Ireland will produce 13% of its energy from renewable sources next year, according to the latest projection published by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) last week. This has been growing, but won’t be enough to meet our EU obligation, set at 16%.
This overall figure covers two stories that are worlds apart. One-third of Ireland’s electricity came from renewable sources last year – nearly all wind. Farmers in the Republic finally have a chance to take part in this effort to move power generation away from fossil fuels with TAMS grants for solar panels for their own use and a new EU directive that will force the national grid to pay for excess electricity within two years.
Thomas Hubert visits a dairy farm partly powered by photovoltaic panels. A support scheme for larger utility solar farms is due to open later this year.
Outside the electricity success story, however, the SEAI warns that “contributing to the shortfall on the renewable energy target was an under-performance on renewable heat”. Following EU clearance for state aid rules last month, the Republic’s Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH) will now open any day to biomass and biogas boiler users.
Biomass boiler
Stephen Robb visits Kilmoon Cross Nurseries business who, in 2016, installed an 800 kWh biomass boiler to heat their 3.5 acres of glasshouses. However, their journey serves as an important case study for those considering installing a biomass-powered heating system as they experienced a number of challenges in developing a secure supply chain of quality biomass.
Further down the line, the huge potential of biogas – the largest per capita in Europe, according to EU figures – offers future opportunities for farmers. This comes with associated challenges, including to ensure safety around high-risk biogas plants. Thomas Hubert brings you advice to approach this new business safely from the pioneering German industry.
Read more
Dairy farmer cuts electricity bills with solar
How to make a TAMS II application for solar panels
Biogas has potential to place farmers in new safety league
Ireland will produce 13% of its energy from renewable sources next year, according to the latest projection published by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) last week. This has been growing, but won’t be enough to meet our EU obligation, set at 16%.
This overall figure covers two stories that are worlds apart. One-third of Ireland’s electricity came from renewable sources last year – nearly all wind. Farmers in the Republic finally have a chance to take part in this effort to move power generation away from fossil fuels with TAMS grants for solar panels for their own use and a new EU directive that will force the national grid to pay for excess electricity within two years.
Thomas Hubert visits a dairy farm partly powered by photovoltaic panels. A support scheme for larger utility solar farms is due to open later this year.
Outside the electricity success story, however, the SEAI warns that “contributing to the shortfall on the renewable energy target was an under-performance on renewable heat”. Following EU clearance for state aid rules last month, the Republic’s Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH) will now open any day to biomass and biogas boiler users.
Biomass boiler
Stephen Robb visits Kilmoon Cross Nurseries business who, in 2016, installed an 800 kWh biomass boiler to heat their 3.5 acres of glasshouses. However, their journey serves as an important case study for those considering installing a biomass-powered heating system as they experienced a number of challenges in developing a secure supply chain of quality biomass.
Further down the line, the huge potential of biogas – the largest per capita in Europe, according to EU figures – offers future opportunities for farmers. This comes with associated challenges, including to ensure safety around high-risk biogas plants. Thomas Hubert brings you advice to approach this new business safely from the pioneering German industry.
Read more
Dairy farmer cuts electricity bills with solar
How to make a TAMS II application for solar panels
Biogas has potential to place farmers in new safety league
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