MREF slams limit on TAMS applications in future tranches
The announcement that limits may apply to the number of applications under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) in future tranches has been criticised by the Micro-Renewable Energy Federation (MREF).
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon said over the weekend that, as TAMS is a demand-led scheme with a defined budget, it may be necessary to limit the number of applicants per tranche through ranking and selection criteria going forward.
However, the MREF said that such a move could have 'a significant damaging impact on the ability of commercial farmers to reduce their carbon emissions and energy costs'.
Kieran Kells, the chairperson of the MREF, said that the 60% grant support available under TAMS for on-farm solar PV panels and infrastructure is a 'massively valuable necessary support measure', and that farmers have 'increasingly bought into investing in solar PV to reduce their energy costs and carbon emissions'.
'It is very disappointing to hear that the government is signaling plans to restrict eligibility in future tranches of TAMS solar PV supports.
'This is a retrograde and negative step that will undermine Ireland' ability to meet its climate action and emissions reduction targets,' Kells said.
According to the MREF, the current eligibility and ranking criteria for applications should be abolished, or at a minimum reviewed and updated to ensure that they prioritise and support all farmers who need and use energy in their business.
The MREF chairperson said that a recently published assessment by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Ireland's progress towards meeting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets 'is a sobering read'.
'If the minister now restricts supports for farmers investing into renewable energy, it will be seen as an incredible own goal by the government,' Kells said.
He added: 'Ireland is facing billion of euros in costs and fines for failing to meet our climate change targets.
'The minister needs to ensure there is unrestricted support for farmers investing into renewables if he is serious about helping farmers decarbonise and help the country meet its challenging climate change targets,' Kells said.
TAMS applications
The minister also confirmed over the weekend that 100% of eligible applications received under tranches 6, 7 and 8 of TAMS have been approved.
Tranche 6 closed to applications on March 7, 2025, with 4,931 applications received across the 11 schemes.
Tranche 7, the emergency tranche which was opened in response to Storm Éowyn, closed for applications on March 28, with 1,945 applications submitted in respect of the agreed emergency investments, including back-up generators; sheep, bovine and equine fencing; wood and biomass chippers; and mulchers.
Tranche 8 closed on Friday with approximately 5,000 applications received. Tranche 9 of the scheme is now open.
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