Policy that diverts farm land to solar ‘has to be challenged’
Rooftops and industrial estates on farms are not being used enough for solar, according to managing director of Local Power Ltd. and member of the Micro Renewable Energy Federation (MREF), Pat Smith.
MREF represents companies and stakeholders engaged in developing, installing, supplying and manufacturing micro PV solar and battery storage in Ireland.
Smith told Agriland: “I’d be a strong advocate that the government is not doing enough to support farmers to use rooftop solar, primarily, for rolling out solar PV.
“Rooftops don’t do anything else.”
He added that solar has huge benefits for farmers in reducing energy bills and improving their carbon emissions, and that as an energy source it “economically makes sense for farming”.
Solar on land
Agricultural land is sometimes used for solar farms, which has been the subject of debate.
On that subject, Smith said: “You can’t fault farmers or landowners who are encouraged to dedicate land to solar farms if they’re offered an attractive index link for doing that.
“I think a person who owns land is entitled to do with it what they wish.”
However, he added that using rooftops for solar should be encouraged.
Smith said: “Any policy that encourages good productive agri-land to be diverted towards solar energy has to be challenged, especially when there is alternative available rooftop solar on every farm and in every industrial estate across this country to put that solar.
“You can fault policy if too much land is going into solar in any particular area.”
Smith gave the example of land in north Co. Dublin and south Co. Meath.
He said that in those locations there are “thousands of acres of land where planning is sought and given for solar PV in a small area”.
Smith added: “It can have a huge impact on farming ecosystem in that area.
“And it’s the best of land."
He added that the same volume of space "if not more" is available on rooftops that could be used for solar PV, and questioned why more is not being done to utilise rooftops rather than "good agricultural land".
Solar and society
On solar power, Smith said: “It’s helping society generate more renewable energy and reducing carbon emissions, and it’s a good counter to wind energy."
He added that solar compliments wind, as it "tends to generate in good weather when sun is shining, as wind does in blustery wintery conditions”.
“I think that the government policy has been encouraging farmers to invest in solar PV through TAMS (Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Schemes) grant scheme, which has been curtailed recently, apparently for budgetary reasons.
“And to encourage more farmers to adapt solar PV and more businesses, they need to increase grants available, and introduce grants for battery storage," Smith said.
