The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) has called on SEAI to include on-farm battery storage within its grant scheme. The request, reported by Agriland on 2 July 2026, puts organised pressure on a gap that many installers working in the agricultural sector will already recognise: solar PV is available on farms, but without grant-supported storage, much of what those panels generate goes to waste or to the grid at unfavourable export rates.
Why the ICMSA is pushing for this now
Farmers are one of the most logical customers for rooftop solar in Ireland. Large roof areas, high daytime electricity demand for milking, refrigeration, and ventilation, and a strong interest in cutting input costs all make the business case straightforward. The problem is timing: farm loads often don't align perfectly with solar generation, and without a battery, surplus power is either exported at a low rate or curtailed entirely.
Battery storage closes that gap. It lets a farm shift self-generated electricity to morning milking or evening feeding runs, significantly increasing the proportion of solar output that's actually used on-site. The ICMSA's argument is that without grant support for batteries alongside panels, the full value of the investment is being left on the table — and many farmers are hesitant to commit to the additional capital cost out of pocket.
What this means for installers
If SEAI responds positively and extends its scheme to cover on-farm battery storage, the practical effect for installers would be meaningful:
- A larger grant-eligible package per job, improving the financial case for farmers who have been sitting on the fence.
- More retrofit opportunities — farms that already have solar PV could come back for battery add-ons if those become grant-eligible.
- A clearer sales conversation: rather than explaining why a battery is worth paying for in full, you can point to a supported scheme with a known grant amount.
- Potential new paperwork requirements — any expansion of SEAI's scope typically means new application processes, technical specifications, and installer registration criteria.
What hasn't been confirmed yet
It's worth being clear: this is a lobbying call, not a confirmed policy change. SEAI has not announced any new battery storage grant for farms, and no grant amounts or eligibility criteria have been published. The ICMSA's public push is a signal that farm bodies see a gap and are applying pressure — but installers should watch for an official SEAI response before quoting customers on the basis of a grant that doesn't yet exist.
“Without grant support for batteries alongside panels, the full value of the farm solar investment is being left on the table.”
The broader context
This push comes at a time when Irish energy costs are rising sharply — one million households faced bills up to €300 higher from 1 July 2026 — and farm businesses are acutely aware of their exposure to electricity prices. The economics of solar-plus-storage on farms are genuinely compelling even without a grant; with one, the conversion rate among farming customers could shift significantly.
Grid connection constraints are also a factor. As Ireland's solar capacity grows rapidly, export conditions for small generators are not guaranteed to improve. A battery that keeps more energy on-site is a hedge against that uncertainty, independent of whatever export tariff a farm can secure.
Keeping your paperwork ready
If SEAI does extend its scheme to cover on-farm storage, expect a new set of application requirements to follow quickly. Installers who already have their SEAI registration, technical documentation, and grant application workflows in good order will be best placed to move fast when the first farm battery jobs come through. Having a clean, consistent process for filling grant paperwork — whether for existing solar PV jobs or any new storage category — means less time chasing missing details and more time on-site.