West Cork dairy farmers are being encouraged to go solar to start saving money on their electricity bills.

Milking parlours, refrigeration, lighting, and machinery mean dairy farmers face particularly high electricity bills, but Ohk Energy say a switch to solar can help farmers reduce energy costs by saving up to €200,000.

Furthermore, the TAMs grant will cover 60% of the installation cost, and farmers can benefit from a 100% tax write-off in the first year.

ICMSA president Denis Drennan recently had solar installed at his farm, and he says he’s already reaping the benefits.

‘It really is a no-brainer for farmers. I started saving money from day one. I’ve seen a dramatic decrease in my electricity bills already and it’s getting to the stage that, with optimisation of my system, I don’t even know if I’ll have any bills going forward. It’s all about long term sustainability for us.’

Mr Drennan was speaking at the launch of renewable energy solutions company Ohk Energy as the exclusive energy partner of the ICMSA’s 15,000 members across the country.

Gearoid Whelan, CRO at Ohk Energy said the appeal of solar panels is ‘undeniable’: ‘We at Ohk Energy know that two things every dairy farmer need is more certainty and control, and that’s certainly what solar panels provide. If you’re generating your own electricity on-site, you’re less affected by wholesale price spikes and, with potential off-grid solutions available, can be less affected by grid instability.’

‘We know investments like this can be intimidating but that’s why we take all the hassle out of it for you. We’ll come to your farm, do a site assessment, and design a tailor-made system made especially for you and your specific needs. We even handle the grants application.’

However, the ICMSA stressed the importance of leaving inspection of shed roofs and maintenance of panels to the experts.

While highlighting the many benefits of solar installations on farms, Mr Drennan warned farmers to be conscious that this is technical and specialised work and should only be undertaken by registered and insured specialists.

‘We have been very focused on identifying an excellent company that has the size and commitment to match our membership, and the required health and safety protocols, and we are satisfied that Ohk meets all the standards that we set out as required to be selected as ICMSA’s energy partner. We are encouraging our members to make contact with them, arrange a consultation and should they decide to proceed, avail of the special ICMSA members’ discount.’

‘Farmers are embracing climate change measures and solar is playing a role and ICMSA is confident that our partnership with Ohk will provide a very strong product offering delivering to the highest standards of safety.’