The National Ploughing Championships 2024 is not only a showcase for the latest agricultural innovations but also a platform for discussing the future of sustainable farming. This year, a panel discussion at the Irish Farmers Journal stand will focus on the large-scale and small-scale opportunities in solar and anaerobic digestion (AD) for Irish farmers.

Renewable Energy Technologies: A Growing Trend in Irish Agriculture

2024 has been a significant year for renewable energy technologies like solar PV and AD. While both technologies have seen growth in Ireland, they are being implemented on farms at different scales, with each approach presenting distinct business models and opportunities for farmers.

Solar Farms: A Promising Landscape

Large-scale solar farm projects have been in the news frequently, with numerous projects seeking planning permission, securing approval, or currently under construction. This surge in solar farm development is driven by Ireland's Climate Action Plan targets, government support, and increasing demand for solar power from industries.

Rooftop Solar PV: A Booming Market

Alongside large-scale solar farms, there's a boom in rooftop solar PV installations. Farms, homes, and businesses are capitalizing on government grants, no VAT, established supply chains, and relatively quick payback periods. But is solar PV the right choice for every farmer, and where should they start? This panel discussion will address these questions and more.

Anaerobic Digestion: A New Frontier in Sustainability

The first-ever Biomethane Capital Investment Scheme is set to announce its results soon, paving the way for the construction of new AD plants in Ireland. This government initiative aims to support large AD plants that will produce biomethane gas to be injected into the national gas pipeline. These plants will primarily rely on agricultural products like grass, crops, and slurry, along with waste materials.

Navigating the Scales of Solar and Anaerobic Digestion

The Potential of Small-Scale Anaerobic Digestion

While large-scale AD will involve developing centralized plants with significant construction costs, there's also a growing interest from farmers in developing small-scale, farm-based AD plants. Traditionally, these smaller plants, common in Europe and Northern Ireland, have been used for electricity production. However, Ireland's focus on biomethane, requiring additional processing steps, has made small-scale plants less viable due to the lack of economies of scale for investing in gas upgrading equipment.

Bridging the Gap: A New System for Small-Scale Biomethane Production

Biolectric, a company specializing in small-scale, farm-based AD plants, believes it has found a solution to this challenge. They are developing a new system that will enable biomethane production on a much smaller scale, making it viable for dairy farms with 400 cows or more.

The Benefits of a Holistic Approach to Renewable Energy

This panel discussion will bring together experts from different areas of renewable energy in Ireland. James Redmond, Head of Development for Ireland at BayWa r.e, will provide insights into the development of solar farms and their impact on Irish farmers and the country's emissions targets. Gerard Kennedy, Commercial Sales Manager with Solarco, will explore the benefits and considerations for adopting rooftop solar PV. Michael Sweeney, Operations Director of Nephin Renewable Gas, will discuss the potential of large-scale anaerobic digestion and its contribution to environmental and economic sustainability in farming. Klaas Vanhee, Commercial Director with Biolectric, will share more about their innovative small-scale AD system for biomethane production.

Looking Ahead: A Sustainable Future for Irish Agriculture

By exploring the different scales and opportunities within the renewable energy sector, this panel discussion will contribute to the conversation around a more sustainable future for Irish agriculture. It will encourage farmers to consider adopting renewable energy solutions that align with their individual circumstances, contributing to a more environmentally responsible and economically viable agricultural landscape. The panel discussion takes place on Tuesday 17 September at 3pm on the Irish Farmers Journal stand at Block 2, Row 14, Stand 260 at the National Ploughing Championships. Join us for this important discussion about the future of sustainable agriculture in Ireland.