Solar Panels for Poultry Farms in Ireland
Intensive poultry units are one of the strongest cases for commercial solar in Ireland. Broiler and layer sheds draw power almost continuously for ventilation fans, lighting and heating, and that demand peaks in summer exactly when solar generation is at its highest. Big shed roofs give you ample space 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 poultry farms install 11-100 kWp of rooftop solar, with 11 kWp the sweet spot (planning-exempt on agricultural buildings). Sized to ventilation, lighting and heating loads that run day and night, 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 poultry farms
A poultry unit has two things that make solar PV work well: a large near-continuous electrical load and a lot of roof. Ventilation fans run around the clock to control temperature, humidity and air quality in the shed, lighting runs on a managed daily cycle, and heating supports young birds. That demand lines up closely with when panels generate, so a well-sized array is mostly self-consumed rather than exported, and self-consumption is where the money is.
The load profile is the key. Unlike a farm with sharp morning and evening peaks, a poultry shed pulls a steady base load all day and all night. Crucially, ventilation demand peaks in warm summer weather, when fans run hardest to keep birds cool, and that is exactly when solar output is strongest. The two curves line up almost perfectly, so daytime generation is consumed on site immediately rather than exported cheaply.
Roof space is rarely the constraint. A modern broiler or layer house 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
Fans are the single biggest load on most poultry units and run day and night, peaking in summer right when solar output is at its highest.
Lighting
Managed lighting programmes run on a daily cycle across the shed, a steady load that solar covers well during daylight hours.
Heating
Brooding heat for young birds and any electric supplementary heating add to a continuous base load that suits high self-consumption.
What size solar system does a poultry farm need?
Most Irish poultry 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 single shed. Multi-shed sites, large layer flocks or significant heating loads 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single shed (~20,000 birds) | 6–11 kWp | 14–26 | ~5,000–9,500 kWh | TAMS 3 (60%) or NDMG |
| 1–2 sheds (~40,000 birds) | 11 kWp | ~26 | ~9,500 kWh | TAMS 3 (60%) or NDMG |
| 2–4 sheds (~80,000 birds) | 20–50 kWp | 46–115 | ~17,000–43,000 kWh | TAMS 3 (60%) or NDMG |
| 4+ sheds / large layer unit | 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 shed load just pushes more cheap export rather than displacing import.
Poultry 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 poultry 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 runs day and night. Figures are estimates for 2026 and exclude battery storage, which TAMS 3 covers and the NDMG does not.
Accelerated Capital Allowance
Farms 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 shed load is worth far more than exporting. Poultry units run ventilation day and night with a summer peak that lines up with the sun, so they use more of their 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 poultry farms
The practical details on a poultry farm differ from a warehouse or office. Plan for these before you commit to a system size.
| Factor | What to check on a poultry farm |
|---|---|
| Roof structure | Large shed roofs are ideal but older units 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 runs day and night with a summer peak that aligns with solar generation, so most output is consumed on site without needing a battery. |
| Grid connection | ESB Networks NC6 covers smaller systems and NC7 covers larger ones up to 200kW; inverters must meet EN 50549. |
| Orientation | East–west shed roofs spread generation across the whole day, which can suit a continuous ventilation load better than a single south-facing pitch. |
Do you need a battery on a poultry unit?
Often not. Because ventilation, lighting and heating run a steady load through the day and night, a poultry shed self-consumes most of its solar generation as it is produced, so the case for a battery is weaker than on farms with sharp peaks. A battery can still shift surplus into the overnight base load, but the higher day and night demand means many poultry units see strong returns from panels alone.
Poultry Farm Solar FAQ
How big a solar system does a poultry farm need?
Most Irish poultry farms install 11-100 kWp. An 11 kWp system suits a single shed and stays planning-exempt on agricultural buildings. Multi-shed sites, large layer flocks or heavy heating loads 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, lighting and heating loads, ideally using a year of meter data.
What grant can a poultry farm get for solar panels?
The headline grant for poultry 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 poultry 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 poultry 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 lighting load?
Yes, to a high degree. Ventilation fans, lighting and heating run a continuous base load day and night, and ventilation peaks in summer exactly when solar output is highest. Because the demand curve lines up so well with generation, a poultry 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, so most of what the panels make is used on site.
What is the payback on solar panels for a poultry 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 Pig Farms
Pig unit solar: ventilation & heat lamps, TAMS 3, sizing.
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 Solar Capital Investment 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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