Glanbia Ireland has launched a new renewable solar energy solution, FarmGen, which will see renewable energy generated from farms.

Glanbia has partnered with SSE Airtricity and Activ8 Solar Energies for the project.

According to Glanbia, this technology will help farmers grow their business sustainably into the future, while improving energy efficiency on farm and reducing bills.

Energy-intensive processes

Following rooftop installation, FarmGen’s 6Kw solar PV system will help power energy-intensive processes on farm, reducing the costs of milk cooling, vacuum pumps and water heating.

Combined, these three processes account for around 80% of total milk parlour energy consumption, it said.

The system will monitor energy generation and consumption in real-time

Activ8 Solar Energies will supply and install the solar panels along with a smart monitoring system on each farm.

The system will monitor energy generation and consumption in real-time, helping farmers understand where and when energy is consumed, thereby assisting them to adapt behaviours that will reduce energy costs and improve sustainability.

On the grid

As part of the solar offering, farms will also have export meters installed that enable them to potentially profit from future incentives to return electricity on to the grid.

In advance of this measure, SSE Airtricity will provide an annual export rebate to FarmGen customers, as well as preferential energy rates on their 100% green energy.

This will be based on fuel mix disclosure and CO2 emissions for 2017, published by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), September 2018.

100% financing

Farmers can receive 100% financing for the FarmGen initiative through the existing Glanbia Ireland FundEquip scheme and can also leverage all available grant aids, such as TAMS II or SEAI.

This solar power solution is open to all farming sectors and sizes.

Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed said: “This is a perfect fit with the Government’s own climate plan and ambition. It builds on the Department of Agriculture’s own TAMS grant, which is encouraging farmers to invest in renewable energies, particularly solar panels, on their farm.

"It’s great to see Glanbia Ireland take that scheme and work with it to enable the industry to collaborate for the benefit of Irish farmers.”

Glanbia Ireland CEO Jim Bergin said: “In Glanbia Ireland, our philosophy is that ‘goodness grows here’ and we are delighted to join with SSE Airtricity and Activ8 Solar Energies to launch our FarmGen programme.

"Through this economically attractive renewable energy solution, we are empowering our farmers to grow their enterprise and to do this in harmony with the environment, for future generations.”

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