Solar Panels for Pig Farms in Ireland
Intensive pig units are one of the strongest cases for commercial solar in Ireland. Ventilation fans, farrowing and weaner heat lamps, feed systems and slurry pumps draw heavy power around the clock, and ventilation peaks on warm summer days line up almost exactly with peak solar generation. Large shed roofs give you the area to cover it. The TAMS 3 Solar Capital Investment Scheme pays up to 60% of the cost on systems up to 11 kWp, which makes the payback faster than almost any other building type. Compare quotes from installers who work on farms.
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
Quick Answer
Most Irish pig farms install 11-100 kWp of rooftop solar, with 11 kWp the sweet spot under TAMS 3 (planning-exempt and up to 60% grant on agricultural buildings). Sized to ventilation, heat-lamp and feed loads, an 11 kWp system costs roughly €9,000-€11,000 before grant, can fall to around €4,000-€5,000 after TAMS 3, and typically pays back in 4-7 years thanks to very high self-consumption from a continuous load.
Why solar suits pig farms
An intensive pig unit has two things that make solar PV work exceptionally well: a heavy, near-continuous electrical load and a lot of roof. Ventilation fans run 24 hours a day to control temperature and ammonia, farrowing and weaner houses run heat lamps and mats almost constantly, and feed augers and slurry pumps cycle throughout the day. That demand never really switches off, so a well-sized array is almost entirely self-consumed rather than exported, and self-consumption is where the money is.
The load profile is the key, and pig units have an unusually good one for solar. Ventilation demand rises with temperature, so the biggest fan loads occur on warm summer afternoons, exactly when an Irish solar array produces its most power. Heat-lamp loads in farrowing and weaner houses provide a steady year-round base, while feed and slurry systems add daytime cycles. A continuous baseload means even a modest array runs at very high self-consumption all year.
Roof space is rarely the constraint. A modern finishing house, farrowing unit or feed store gives a large, unshaded, often south or east–west facing roof, far more than a house. That means you can size the system to the load rather than to the available area. For the wider picture across all farm types, see our farm solar guide.
Ventilation fans
Continuous fan loads control temperature and ammonia, and peak on warm summer afternoons exactly when solar output is highest.
Heat lamps & mats
Farrowing and weaner houses run heat lamps and heated mats almost constantly, a steady year-round base load solar covers.
Feed & slurry
Feed augers, mixers and slurry pumps cycle through the day, daytime loads that solar generation lines up with neatly.
What size solar system does a pig farm need?
Most Irish pig farms install between 11 and 100 kWp. 11 kWp is the headline figure because it is the ceiling for the TAMS 3 grant and stays planning-exempt on an agricultural building, so it is the default starting point for a herd of roughly 100–200 sows or an equivalent finishing unit. Larger integrated units with several thousand finishing places can justify 30–100 kWp, though above 11 kWp you move from TAMS 3 to the Non-Domestic Microgen Grant and may need planning for the part over the exemption cap.
| Unit Size | Typical System | Panels (approx.) | Annual Generation | Best Grant Route |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 100 sows / 1,000 finishers | 6–11 kWp | 14–26 | ~5,000–9,500 kWh | TAMS 3 (up to 60%) |
| 100–200 sows / 2,000 finishers | 11 kWp | ~26 | ~9,500 kWh | TAMS 3 (up to 60%) |
| 200–400 sows / 4,000 finishers | 20–50 kWp | 46–115 | ~17,000–43,000 kWh | NDMG |
| 400+ sows / integrated finishing | 50–100 kWp | 115–230 | ~43,000–86,000 kWh | NDMG |
Generation assumes the average Irish yield of around 860 kWh per kWp per year. Actual figures depend on roof pitch, orientation and shading. A site survey and a year of meter data give the accurate sizing, oversizing past your continuous ventilation and heat-lamp load just pushes more cheap export rather than displacing import.
Pig farm solar grants, ACA and payback
For pig farms the headline grant is TAMS 3, not the standard SEAI grant. The TAMS 3 Solar Capital Investment Scheme funds up to 60% of the cost of on-farm solar up to 11 kWp (the higher rate applies to eligible young trained farmers and partnerships; the standard rate is 40%). Systems within that 11 kWp cap are planning-exempt on agricultural buildings, and TAMS support stacks with the Clean Export Guarantee for any surplus you do export. Pig and poultry producers may also access support under the Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme, which funds 40% of eligible energy-efficiency and renewable investments.
Above 11 kWp the TAMS 3 cap is exceeded, so larger arrays use the SEAI Non-Domestic Microgeneration Grant (NDMG) instead, which runs up to a maximum of €162,600 on large systems. You apply under one scheme or the other, not both, so the size you choose drives which grant fits.
| System | Gross Cost (est.) | Grant Route | Net Cost (est.) | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 kWp | €9,000–€11,000 | TAMS 3 (40–60%) | €4,000–€6,600 | 4–6 years |
| 30 kWp | €24,000–€30,000 | NDMG (€9,000) | €15,000–€21,000 | 5–7 years |
| 50 kWp | €40,000–€55,000 | NDMG (€12,000) | €28,000–€43,000 | 5–7 years |
| 100 kWp | €70,000–€100,000 | NDMG (€22,000) | €48,000–€78,000 | 6–8 years |
Installed cost on farms runs roughly €800–€900 per kWp at commercial scale, with smaller TAMS-capped systems at the higher end per kWp. Figures are estimates for 2026 and exclude battery storage, which is not covered by NDMG.
Accelerated Capital Allowance
Pig units trading as a company can claim the Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA), writing off 100% of qualifying solar and battery cost against profits in year one through the Triple-E register. Sole-trader farms should check the available capital allowances with their accountant.
Where the savings come from
Commercial electricity costs around 22c/kWh to import while exported surplus earns roughly 18c/kWh, so displacing your own ventilation and heat-lamp load is worth far more than exporting. Pig units with a continuous baseload routinely reach 85–95% self-consumption, which is why the returns are strong, typically a 10–15% annual return.
Roof, planning and install specifics for pig farms
The practical details on a pig unit differ from a warehouse or office. Plan for these before you commit to a system size.
| Factor | What to check on a pig farm |
|---|---|
| Roof structure | Older sheds may have light-gauge purlins or fibre-cement sheeting; an installer should confirm the roof carries the panel and mounting load before fixing. |
| Planning | Up to 11 kWp on an agricultural building is planning-exempt under the rooftop exemption; larger arrays or ground-mount may need permission. |
| Load matching | Ventilation peaks on warm summer afternoons align with solar output; a continuous heat-lamp baseload keeps self-consumption high year-round with little need for a battery. |
| Corrosion & ammonia | Ammonia and dust from pig housing can corrode fixings and cabling; specify suitably rated mounting, isolators and enclosures for the environment. |
| Grid connection | ESB Networks NC6 covers smaller systems and NC7 covers larger ones up to 200kW; inverters must meet EN 50549. |
Do pig farms need a battery?
Less often than most building types. Because ventilation, heat lamps and feed systems run through the day and night, a pig unit consumes most of what it generates as it is produced, so self-consumption is already very high without storage. A battery can still capture midday surplus for overnight ventilation and heat-lamp loads, but the simpler economics often favour sizing the array to the daytime baseload first.
Pig Farm Solar FAQ
How big a solar system does a pig farm need?
Most Irish pig farms install 11-100 kWp. An 11 kWp system suits a unit of roughly 100-200 sows or around 2,000 finishing places and is the cap for the TAMS 3 grant while staying planning-exempt on agricultural buildings. Larger integrated units can justify 30-100 kWp under the NDMG grant. Sizing should be matched to your ventilation, heat-lamp and feed loads, ideally using a year of meter data.
What grant can a pig farm get for solar panels?
The headline grant for pig farms is the TAMS 3 Solar Capital Investment Scheme, which funds up to 60% of on-farm solar up to 11 kWp (40% standard rate, with a higher rate for eligible young trained farmers and partnerships). Pig producers may also use the Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme at 40%. Above 11 kWp, farms use the SEAI Non-Domestic Microgeneration Grant (NDMG) instead, up to a maximum of €162,600. You apply under one scheme, not both.
Does an 11 kWp pig farm solar system need planning permission?
No. Rooftop solar up to 11 kWp on an agricultural building is planning-exempt in Ireland, which is why 11 kWp is the common starting point for pig farms. Larger arrays beyond the exemption cap, or ground-mounted systems, may need planning permission. Your installer should confirm the exemption applies to your specific building.
Will solar cover the ventilation and heat-lamp load?
Solar covers the daytime portion of pig-unit loads very well. Ventilation fans peak on warm summer afternoons exactly when an Irish array produces most power, and farrowing and weaner heat lamps provide a steady year-round base load. Because the demand is near-continuous, pig units typically reach 85-95% self-consumption, often without needing a battery.
What is the payback on solar panels for a pig farm?
An 11 kWp system costs roughly €9,000-€11,000 before grant and can fall to around €4,000-€6,600 after TAMS 3, giving a payback of about 4-6 years. Larger NDMG-funded systems typically pay back in 5-8 years. Payback is driven by very high self-consumption, since displacing import at about 22c/kWh is worth more than exporting surplus at about 18c/kWh.
Related Guides
Solar for Farms
On-farm solar: TAMS 3 grant, sizing by enterprise, ROI.
Solar for Poultry Farms
Poultry solar: ventilation load, TAMS 3 grant, sizing, ROI.
Farm Solar
Farm solar panels: TAMS 3 grant (60%), costs, and sizing by farm type.
Commercial Solar
Solar panels for Irish businesses: costs, NDMG grants, and ROI.
Sources
- SEAI, Non-Domestic Microgen Scheme (NDMG)
- SEAI, Accelerated Capital Allowance
- ESB Networks, Micro and Small-Scale Generation
- DAFM, TAMS 3 (Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme)
Last updated: July 2026
John Rooney is the founder of Solar Info and has been covering the Irish solar energy market since 2023. He fact-checks all content against official SEAI data and maintains relationships with SEAI-registered installers across Ireland.
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