Farmers expressed their frustration at the complexity of the new Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH) which launched last year.

The SSRH has been designed to encourage the uptake of renewable heat technologies on farms with a high heat demand such as pig, poultry and mushroom units. The scheme is also open to other non-farming and non-domestic sectors.

Administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), the scheme has so far received 80 applications, 20 of which have received offers.

Successful applicants can receive grant aid towards the installation of new renewable heat equipment such as air, ground and water source heat pumps.

The scheme has been criticised by farmers as being too complex

If applicants switch from a fossil-based to biomass or biogas heating system, then they can receive a tariff payment for every kilowatt hour of renewable heat consumed subject to payment caps.

However, the scheme has been criticised by farmers as being too complex. In order to receive the grant, there are a number of stages including a detailed application submission and technical assessments and ongoing technical and post-payment reporting.

Frustration

Farmers at the recent SSRH information seminar in Cork organised by Teagasc and the SEAI expressed their frustration at the complicated application on administration process of the scheme.

One local pig farmer in attendance said: “The systems we have are all in place and we’re burning oil already.

"We’re changing over a woodchip burner, but the system isn’t going to change, the water will still be going through the same pipes, we will still have to heat the same plants on a daily basis, it’s not very complicated.

"But it [SSRH scheme] is coming across as so hard to get. People are going to get fed up of it.”

I’m frustrated listening to the whole thing, it’s just doesn’t work

Another pig farmer from the south of the country said: “I’m frustrated listening to the whole thing, it’s just doesn’t work. It’s the most complicated bloody scheme.”

The criticism continued from a poultry farmer: “We should be encouraging people to get through this scheme as quickly as possible, or else people are going to just walk away.”

Hold-up

One farmer in attendance questioned the delay in processing applications. While the scheme has been open for applications since last June, just 20 have been approved.

However, Ray Langton of the SEAI explained that of the 80 applications received for the scheme, just 20 had the required paperwork and this was the primary cause of the delay in offers.