If you’re planning to apply for TAMS solar grants to fund a solar PV system on your farm, it’s important to understand how the scheme’s investment ceiling works. The TAMS (Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme) funding model includes a cap on how much of your investment is eligible for grant support. This limit plays a major role in how much financial assistance you can receive.
Whether you’re installing solar panels, improving your farm’s infrastructure, or both, knowing the ceiling helps you budget and plan your application effectively.
What is the TAMS 3 investment ceiling?
Under TAMS III, grant aid is paid at a rate of 40% of eligible costs, up to a maximum investment ceiling of €90,000 per holding. This means that even if your project exceeds €90,000 in total value, only the first €90,000 of approved expenditure will be considered for funding.
This ceiling ensures that funding is distributed fairly across farms and allows the Department of Agriculture to manage the scheme’s overall budget while still supporting meaningful improvements in farm operations.
To be clear:
- Grant aid is only paid on approved, completed, and eligible expenses
- The grant rate is 40%, capped at €90,000 in total eligible investment
- This equates to a maximum grant payout of €36,000 per holding
How does the €90,000 ceiling affect solar grant applications?
The TAMS solar grant falls under the Solar Capital Investment Scheme, which allows farmers to receive financial support specifically for solar PV systems. However, the same investment ceiling still applies. If your solar project is part of multiple TAMS applications, or if you’ve already used part of your ceiling on other investments, the total cannot exceed €90,000.
This affects your planning in a few key ways:
- If your solar project alone costs €50,000, you’re eligible for a 40% grant on that amount (i.e. €20,000)
- If you’ve already received funding for €50,000 worth of improvements under TAMS, you only have €40,000 of ceiling left for your solar application
- If your total solar installation exceeds €90,000, you will still only be funded on the first €90,000
This is why many Irish farmers consult with providers like EnergyServ to ensure their system design fits comfortably within the ceiling.
Is the ceiling applied per project or per farm?
The investment ceiling is applied per holding, not per project. That means even if you submit multiple applications for different projects (e.g. one for solar panels, one for a new milking facility), the total amount of eligible investment across all projects is capped at €90,000.
This is especially important to keep in mind if you’re planning to apply for other TAMS supports in addition to solar. Once you’ve used your ceiling, you’re no longer eligible for additional grant support under the scheme—unless a new phase or funding round is introduced in the future.
Ensuring your project stays within TAMS limits
The best way to maximise your grant support is to design a solar PV system that delivers meaningful savings while staying within TAMS thresholds. This includes not only staying under the €90,000 ceiling, but also ensuring the system qualifies for TAMS grant criteria in terms of capacity, usage, and location.
TAMS grants (linked again here) are only issued for systems that are:
- Installed on agricultural land within the Republic of Ireland
- Used to power on-farm operations
- Sized appropriately (maximum eligible size is 62 kW)
- Fully approved before installation begins
Working with an experienced provider like EnergyServ helps ensure you stay compliant. Their team specialises in TAMS-aligned designs that take the €90,000 ceiling into account while delivering strong returns on investment.
Other factors that can influence your grant support
While the base grant rate is 40%, certain farmers may be eligible for a higher support rate of 60%. This includes:
- Young trained farmers (under 40 years old)
- Women farmers in some categories
- Organic farming participants
However, even if you qualify for a higher grant percentage, the €90,000 ceiling still applies. So while the percentage of support may increase, the maximum possible grant is still determined by the ceiling amount.
In partnerships or joint ventures, the ceiling can be shared across members. These arrangements must be properly registered with the Department of Agriculture and may involve additional documentation. It’s important to confirm how your business structure affects the ceiling calculation during the application process.
Stay within the ceiling to maximise your TAMS grant
The TAMS III investment ceiling is a critical part of grant planning. With funding capped at 40% of eligible costs up to €90,000 per holding, farmers can receive a maximum of €36,000 in support for solar panels and other farm improvements.
Understanding how the ceiling works allows you to plan strategically, especially if you’re submitting multiple TAMS applications or managing long-term investment plans for your farm.
EnergyServ works closely with Irish farmers to deliver TAMS-compliant solar systems that fit within grant thresholds and qualify for maximum available support. From system design to application assistance, their team ensures your solar project is aligned with the rules—and your return on investment.
If you’re considering a solar upgrade under TAMS, start by reviewing your investment ceiling and working with a provider who understands the full picture.