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ALMOST 95% of horse owners who participated in a recent online survey carried out by The Irish Field said they are either planning to install solar panels on their equine premises or are open to the idea.
The survey results come in a week when ESB Networks confirmed that more than 100,000 rooftop solar microgenerators have now been connected to the Ireland’s electricity network. The state-owned company says it is processing 750 new solar connections per week.
Attractive government grant support has driven demand for solar panel installation in Ireland’s agricultural sector. A recent series of ‘renewable energy roadshows’ organised by the Irish Farmers Journal in hotels around the country drew packed houses, as farmers sought advice on how to save money on their energy bills.
The Irish Field and IFA Bord Gais will stage an information evening on the topic aimed at horse owners on Monday, August 26th, in The Heritage Hotel, Killenard, Co Laois. Entitled ‘Maximising Energy Grants for the Equine Sector’, the event will feature expert advice on solar panels, the finance and potential savings, and details on available grants.
Admission to the event is free, but pre-registration is essential.
Mark Costello, Editor of The Irish Field, said: “Having witnessed the considerable interest from the farming community in the Farmers Journal information evenings, we were curious to see if our readers were interested in discovering more about solar panels. Our survey results were obvious.
“We immediately approached IFA and Bord Gáis Energy, a leading supplier of solar energy solutions, and they agreed to partner with us in putting on this event for horse owners. IFA and Bord Gáis Energy completed solar installations in farms across Ireland, including installing solar panels on the stables of a prominent racehorse trainer who will join us on the night.”
James Kelly, IFA’s Director of Organisation, said: "There has never been a better time for all farmers, including those in the equine sector, to invest in solar. IFA and Bord Gáis Energy’s combined knowledge of the agricultural and energy sectors ensure we are the natural choice for farmers investing in solar. We are delighted to support this event and look forward to sharing our insights and advice with those in the equine sector."
Separately, figures published this week by Ireland’s Economic and Social Research Unit [ESRI] show plenty of interest in investing in retrofitting homes and in availing of grants from the Sustainable Energy Association of Ireland.
The ESRI report said over 25% of households were actively contemplating work on their homes, while another 30% were open to the idea but had not yet investigated their options.
Interestingly, the report found that many homeowners were concerned about the potential disturbance involved in retrofitting their homes, which could be one of the reasons why the less invasive installation of solar panels has become such a popular option.
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