Calls for clarity from Government as solar farms applications soar
buy canada goose jacket Already in excess of 25,000 acres has been committed for use for solar energy production. While farming organisations recognise the new opportunities, they advise caution in what they say has been a real lack of clarity from the Government. buy canada goose jacket
In the past year, in anticipation of Government supports, the number of applications to develop solar farms has exploded.
One third of applications have been in counties Cork and Wexford.
Canada Goose Parka The increase in applications has been in proportion to local opposition with protest groups springing up all over the country where developments have been proposed. Canada Goose Parka
cheap canada goose uk Those in favour argue they’re a clean, non intrusive alternative to fossil fuels and our best hope in meeting our carbon omission targets canada goose outlet near me when combined with wind energy, thus staving off huge fines. cheap canada goose uk
The IFA says it is a legitimate alternative land use for farmers desperate to explore alternative sources of income but advises caution when clarity is lacking on tax, succession and farm payment implications.
David Maguire is director of BNRG Renewables Ltd and chairman and founder of the Irish Solar Energy Association (ISEA). An environmental scientist by profession, he says Ireland is better placed than a lot of our European neighbours because of the quality of our light, even if we don’t get a lot of sunshine.
canada goose factory sale The technology is the same as the solar cells on a calculator that most of us are familiar with but to a much larger scale. The light is converted into DC electrical current that is then converted to AC so that it can be used to power homes. canada goose factory sale
There are three sectors in solar: roof top domestic, roof top commercial, and cheap canada goose large scale ground land, where solar cells are mounted to supply energy to the grid.
“For solar farms to be viable in Ireland they need to be on a minimum of 25 acres but bear in mind, you’re only losing 3pc of the grass sward there, shading of buy canada goose uk the panels only accounts for about 30 to 40pc of the site.
canada goose uk black friday “That site typically is rectangular or square on a flat or slightly south facing field and located near an ESB substation,” Mr Maguire explains. canada goose uk black friday
The ISEA is looking canada goose outlet us for “robust Government policy” to be able to deliver “good value” to the consumer and to gain “popular support”.
uk canada goose outlet “What we have proposed to Government, as a trade body, is what we believe is the best value support mechanism that’s achievable. It should be auction driven where projects bid for the price of electricity and the lower bids win the contract and that price is index linked but fixed for 20 years,” says Mr Maguire. uk canada goose outlet
The ISEA has also made a submission to Government on community benefit that for every solar PV project built there is, for example, a solar panel installed on the roof of the local school to meet its energy requirements and give it a source of income from feeding in what it doesn’t use to the national canada goose outlet seattle grid.
It proposes local communities would be able to invest in a project as individuals.
It also wants to see a mechanism where ISEA members adhere to canada goose uk site community engagement principles where they meet the neighbours before they put in for planning and explain the scheme.
“Currently, that’s not required under planning legislation and we strongly feel it should be part of the planning process in anything you do,” Mr Maguire adds.
Chairman of the IFA Renewables Project Team, James Murphy, says solar is a legitimate alternative land use option that farmers shouldn’t be afraid to explore.
However, he says there are pitfalls they need to be aware of.
“We would always say to the farmer, whatever the technology, get yourself very experienced legal advice and make sure the tax man is aware of what you’re doing,” canada goose outlet jackets he says.
“When you’re considering 20, 25 or 30 year contracts, they are intergenerational decisions that will impact on the next generation as well so it’s important that’s taken on board.
canada goose coats on sale “It’s worked in other countries around Europe and farmers have been able to make use of it. The difference here is that in other countries, policy was designed to benefit small scale producers, and so far https://www.canadagooseonsale.biz in Ireland we’ve not seen that level of policy design. canada goose coats on sale
canada goose uk shop “So far in the progression of our renewable energy sector, it has been pretty much left to large scale developers to set the pace, and that hasn’t worked for the benefit of individuals or communities. canada goose uk shop
“Our members live in rural communities and they canada goose outlet uk need to feel engaged in this as well,” he adds.
The IFA is calling for clarity on a number of key issues. If part of a farm is used for solar canada goose outlet canada energy production, is the farm then designated ‘commercial’ and would it be able to benefit from capital acquisitions tax allowance?
“This would have a huge impact when that farm was transferred from one generation to the next and we need clarity canada goose outlet phone number in that area.
canada goose “This is of grave concern to farmers who have been approached by solar developers and who, understandably, are eager to consider it,” explains Mr Murphy, who says there’s also need for greater clarity around whether the basic payment will be paid on land under solar panels. canada goose
Meanwhile, the clock is ticking as we fast approach the 2020 deadline for the EU’S 20pc renewables target set out in the Renewable Energy Directive.
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