An Irish MEP has called on the European Commission to allow farmers to sell excess renewable energy which they generate to national electricity grids.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, Solar PV rechargeable batteries and solar panels are currently included under the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Schemes (TAMS).

However, Ireland South MEP Sean Kelly explained that under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), TAMS-funded solar-generated power can only be for own-farm use.

"This makes little sense in my view; solar is a clean source of energy but under the current arrangements we basically have little incentive for farmers to utilise all their potential," Kelly stated.

“The war has changed everything and the EU is rightly looking to both massively increase our domestic supply of renewable energy as well as secure alternative supplies of gas and oil to reduce our dependence on Russia.

“The small-scale generation of energy by farmers has several benefits; it provides a means of increasing income streams, reduces overall carbon impact of farms, increases renewables mix in the energy mix and reduces impacts of rising energy costs for farmers," he outlined.

The MEP has previously championed renewable energy communities (RECs) and microgeneration during negotiations for the Renewable Energy Directive (RED).

"Farmers have long showed their willingness to play their part in decarbonising our energy system, so let's make sure they can," Kelly concluded.