Ireland's First SRESS Solar Project Has Energised: What It Means for Farm and Business Solar

Ireland's first solar project supported by the Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS) has energised in Cork. The 650 kW Meadhill Solar farm, developed by local farmer Sean Keating, came online in late September 2026 and is the first to run under a scheme that gives farms, businesses and community groups a guaranteed 15-year tariff for the power they export. At the time of writing (October 2026), SRESS opens a solar route that sits above the domestic SEAI grant and works alongside the Clean Export Guarantee, with no auction and no performance bond required.

What Is the Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme?

SRESS is a government support scheme for renewable electricity projects that are too small for the main auction-based programme but too large for a single rooftop. It gives successful applicants a fixed, guaranteed tariff for 15 years.

• It is open to community groups, farmers, small businesses and other generators.
• Community-owned projects receive a higher tariff than commercial developers, because they face more barriers on planning, grid connection and finance.
• There is no competitive auction and no performance bond, so the application is simpler than the utility-scale route.
• A review of the SRESS tariffs began in February 2026, and the published rates remain fully available to applicants while it runs.

What Are the Two SRESS Routes?

There are two distinct ways to take part, depending on whether you use the power yourself or export it.

*Figures correct as of October 2026. Scheme terms and tariffs are subject to change and to the ongoing SRESS review.*

The full detail sits in the Government's SRESS information note.

Why Does the First SRESS Project Matter?

The Meadhill project shows the scheme working on the ground. It is a 650 kW array on a working Cork farm, with sheep grazing around and beneath the panels, and it generates enough clean electricity to power around 150 local households each year.

For a farmer, the appeal is straightforward. Solar becomes a second income stream that does not take land out of production, and a fixed 15-year tariff makes that income predictable. Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O'Brien said the scheme lets farms, community groups and businesses take part directly in the energy transition.

What Could a Farm or Business Earn From Solar?

A well-designed commercial or farm system does two things. It cuts the electricity bill by supplying your own daytime load, and it earns export income from the surplus. The self-consumption side usually delivers the larger saving, because every unit you use is a unit you no longer buy at retail rates of roughly €0.35 to €0.45 per kWh.

A battery changes that balance. It lifts self-consumption from around 30% to 70%, so more of your generation is used on site and less is sold cheaply at midday. Our guide to solar for farms in Ireland covers the practical sizing questions, and our overview of solar and EV chargers for commercial use explains how the same array can charge a business fleet.

How Do You Start a SRESS Project?

The order matters, and grid capacity is the usual gate.

• Check your site, your roof or ground area, and your daytime electricity load.
• Get a grid connection assessment before you commit to a size.
• Apply through the relevant SRESS route, or through SEAI's Non-Domestic Microgen Grant if you are a self-consumer above 50 kW.
• Design the array and, where it pays, add a battery so you keep more of what you generate.
• Register for the Clean Export Guarantee with your supplier for any remaining export.

Because the tariff review is still open, anyone weighing up a project should note that the published rates remain valid for applications made before new terms are set.

Final Thoughts

The first SRESS project energising in Cork is a small but important milestone. It confirms that Ireland now has a practical support route for solar at the scale of a farm, a business or a community building, not just a single roof. For anyone with land, a large roof or a steady daytime load, a fixed 15-year tariff turns solar into predictable business income.

Ready to Power Your Farm or Business With Solar?

WattCharger designs and installs commercial and agricultural solar systems across Ireland, and can size an array around your load, your roof and the SRESS or SEAI supports you qualify for. If you are weighing up a battery as well, our battery storage team can build it into the plan. Get in touch for a free consultation and see what your site could earn.