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 60% of the cost on systems up to 62 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 (planning-exempt on agricultural buildings). Sized to ventilation, heat-lamp and feed loads, an 11 kWp system costs roughly €13,200–€16,500 before grant. It falls to €5,280–€6,600 after the 60% TAMS 3 grant or €7,260–€9,075 after the NDMG, and pays back in 3 years with TAMS or 4–5 years with the NDMG, with about 60% of the output used on the farm. TAMS applications are ranked, and only about 1 in 10 solar applications were being approved in October 2026.
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 uses more of its output on site than most farms, 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 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 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 TAMS 3 stops at 62 kWp, and above that you move 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 (60%) or NDMG |
| 100–200 sows / 2,000 finishers | 11 kWp | ~26 | ~9,500 kWh | TAMS 3 (60%) or NDMG |
| 200–400 sows / 4,000 finishers | 20–50 kWp | 46–115 | ~17,000–43,000 kWh | TAMS 3 (60%) or NDMG |
| 400+ sows / integrated finishing | 50–100 kWp | 115–230 | ~43,000–86,000 kWh | TAMS 3 to 62 kWp, else 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
Enhanced rate: for applications from 6 October 2026 to 6 July 2027 the NDMG is doubled, to a maximum of €325,200. SEAI pays the lower of the doubled per-kWp rate or 45% of the invoiced cost, up from about 23% of the cost of installation. The grant and payback figures on this page use the enhanced rate. Applications made before 6 October 2026 are not increased, and the standard rate (up to €162,600) returns after 6 July 2027 unless SEAI extends it. See what the 45% rate means.
For pig farms the headline grant is TAMS 3, not the standard SEAI grant. The TAMS 3 Solar Capital Investment Scheme funds 60% of the cost of on-farm solar for all farmers, under a ring-fenced €90,000 investment ceiling (a maximum grant of €54,000), for systems up to 62 kWp. Batteries are eligible. Applications are ranked, and the IFA said in October 2026 that only about 1 in 10 solar applications were being approved. The Clean Export Guarantee only applies up to 6 kW, so surplus from a larger farm system is paid at a negotiated rate of about 10c/kWh.
The SEAI Non-Domestic Microgeneration Grant (NDMG) is the other route. It pays up to €325,200 for applications until 6 July 2027, with no ranking, for systems up to 1,000 kWp, though it does not cover batteries. Above 62 kWp it is the only one of the two that applies. You apply under one scheme or the other, not both. With TAMS approval so uncertain, the NDMG is the surer route while the enhanced rate lasts.
| System | Gross Cost (est.) | Net After TAMS 3 (60%) | Net After NDMG | Payback (TAMS 3) | Payback (NDMG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 kWp | €13,200–€16,500 | €5,280–€6,600 | €7,260–€9,075 | about 3 years | 4–5 years |
| 30 kWp | €30,000–€39,000 | €12,000–€15,600 | €16,500–€21,800 | 2–3 years | 3–4 years |
| 50 kWp | €50,000–€65,000 | €20,000–€26,000 | €27,500–€39,800 | 2–3 years | 3–5 years |
| 100 kWp | €100,000–€130,000 | Not eligible (over 62 kWp) | €55,000–€84,800 | n/a | 3–5 years |
Installed cost runs roughly €1,000–€1,300 per kWp for 21–100 kWp, and €1,200–€1,500 per kWp for smaller systems. Paybacks assume about 60% of the output is used on the farm, higher than the 35–45% a dairy farm uses without a battery, because ventilation and heat lamps run all day. Figures are estimates for 2026 and exclude battery storage, which TAMS 3 covers and the NDMG does not.
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 27c/kWh to import, while exported surplus above 6 kW earns about 10c/kWh, so displacing your own ventilation and heat-lamp load is worth far more than exporting. A near-continuous baseload means a pig unit uses more of its output than a dairy farm, about 60% on our figures, against 35–45% for a dairy farm without a battery.
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 stays planning-exempt on agricultural buildings. Larger integrated units can justify 30-100 kWp. TAMS 3 covers systems up to 62 kWp, and the NDMG covers larger arrays. 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 60% of on-farm solar for all farmers, on a ring-fenced €90,000 investment ceiling (a maximum grant of €54,000) for systems up to 62 kWp, batteries included. Applications are ranked, and the IFA said in October 2026 that only about 1 in 10 solar applications were being approved. The SEAI Non-Domestic Microgeneration Grant (NDMG) pays up to €325,200 for applications until 6 July 2027, with no ranking, though it does not cover batteries. You apply under one scheme, not both. With TAMS approval so uncertain, the NDMG is the surer route while the enhanced rate lasts.
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, a pig unit uses more of its output than a dairy farm, about 60% on our figures against 35-45% for a dairy farm without a battery.
What is the payback on solar panels for a pig farm?
An 11 kWp system costs roughly €13,200–€16,500 before grant. After the 60% TAMS 3 grant it falls to €5,280–€6,600, a payback of 3 years; after the NDMG it is €7,260–€9,075, a payback of 4–5 years. Across 11-62 kWp, payback is 2–3 years with TAMS 3, 3–5 years with the NDMG and 6–9 years with no grant. That assumes about 60% of the output is used on the farm. Displacing import at about 27c/kWh is worth far more than exporting surplus at about 10c/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 Grants
SEAI NDMG up to €325,200, TAMS 3 for farms, ACA tax relief, and how to apply.
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: November 2026
John Rooney is the editor 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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