Small Wind Turbines for Irish Farms: Planning, Grants and Fit

Ask most Irish farmers when their electricity bills hurt the most and the answer is the same: the dark months. Milking, lighting, water heating and ventilation all keep running when solar panels are at their weakest. That is exactly why so many farmers ask us about small wind turbines. Ireland’s wind is strongest in winter, which makes wind a natural partner to solar on the right site.

This guide covers how farm wind works, the planning exemption rules, what financial support is out there and how to decide whether wind, solar or both makes sense for your yard.

Quick facts: farm wind turbines in Ireland

• Under the current exempted development rules, one wind turbine per farm can be erected without planning permission if it meets strict conditions.
• Key limits include a maximum total height of 20 metres and a maximum rotor diameter of 8 metres.
• Noise must not exceed 43 dB(A) at the nearest dwelling.
• Exported electricity from microgeneration, including wind, can earn Clean Export Guarantee payments from your supplier.
• The main farm grants (TAMS Solar Capital Investment Scheme and SEAI’s Non-Domestic Microgen Grant) are aimed at solar PV, not wind.
• Irish Wind & Solar offers commercial customers, including farm businesses, a full free energy audit worth €2,000.

Why wind suits Irish farms

Solar and wind complement each other well. Solar peaks in late spring and summer, while wind is generally strongest through autumn and winter. A farm with a dairy parlour, cold storage or heated water demand all year round can use both.

Farms also tend to have the two things a wind turbine needs most: open space and distance from neighbours. A turbine in a sheltered back garden rarely performs well. A turbine on an exposed hill field with clear wind from the south-west can be a very different story.

If you are weighing up whether wind is worth it at all, our guide Are Wind Turbines Worth It in Ireland? covers the basics, and our vertical vs horizontal wind turbines comparison explains which design suits which site.

Planning exemptions for farm wind turbines

Ireland’s planning regulations allow a single wind turbine on a farm to be exempt from planning permission, as long as it meets a set of conditions. As summarised by the Irish Farmers Journal in August 2025, the current conditions include:

• One turbine per farm holding.
• Total height of no more than 20 metres.
• Rotor diameter of no more than 8 metres.
• Ground clearance of at least 3 metres for the blades.
• Distance from site boundaries of at least 1.5 times the total turbine height, plus 1 metre.
• Distance from power lines: 20 metres from 38 kV lines and 30 metres from 110 kV or higher lines.
• Distance from aerodromes of 5 km unless aviation approval is in place.
• Noise of no more than 43 dB(A) at the nearest dwelling.
• A matt, non-reflective finish with no advertising.

The government consulted in 2025 on whether the 20 metre height limit should be raised to support more on-farm generation, so these rules may change. Always check the current position with your local authority before you buy anything. You can read the Farmers Journal’s summary here.

Grants and financial support

Farm solar grants

The two main supports for on-farm renewable electricity are both for solar PV:

• TAMS Solar Capital Investment Scheme: run by the Department of Agriculture, it offers a 60% grant on an investment ceiling of €90,000 per holding, for systems up to 62 kW. Applications go through ranking and selection. See the official gov.ie announcement.
• SEAI Non-Domestic Microgen Grant: open to farms and other businesses for solar PV. SEAI increased support to around 45% of eligible costs for nine months from 6 October 2026. Details are on the SEAI website.

Neither scheme currently funds wind turbines. That is one reason many farms start with solar and add wind later, or choose a hybrid system from day one. We wrote about the prospect of dedicated wind support in Ireland set to roll out domestic wind turbine grants.

Clean Export Guarantee

If your turbine is grid-connected and produces more than the farm uses, the surplus can be exported and paid for by your supplier under the Clean Export Guarantee. Rates vary by supplier, so shop around.

Tax

Note that the €400 tax-free allowance on microgeneration export income applies to your main family home, not to farm sheds or business meters. Talk to your accountant about how export income and capital allowances apply to your farm.

Wind, solar or both?

Every farm is different, but here is how we usually think about it:

• Solar first if you have big south, east or west-facing shed roofs, steady daytime demand and want to use the grants.
• Add wind if you have an exposed site with good wind, high winter or night-time demand and space to meet the exemption distances.
• Hybrid with battery if you want to smooth out supply and use more of your own power.

A wind site assessment is essential. Wind speed rises sharply with height and open ground, and small differences in average wind speed make a big difference to output. Try our wind turbine calculator for a first estimate.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need planning permission for a wind turbine on my farm?

Not if your turbine meets all the exempted development conditions, including the 20 metre height limit, 8 metre rotor limit and distance rules. If it does not, you will need planning permission.

Can I get a grant for a farm wind turbine?

The main farm schemes, TAMS SCIS and the SEAI Non-Domestic Microgen Grant, are for solar PV. There is currently no equivalent headline grant for small farm wind turbines.

Will a wind turbine bother my neighbours?

The exemption rules set a noise limit of 43 dB(A) at the nearest dwelling and minimum distances from boundaries. A proper site assessment will consider noise and visual impact before anything is installed.

Can I sell power from my turbine back to the grid?

Yes. Grid-connected microgeneration can earn Clean Export Guarantee payments from your electricity supplier for the units you export.

What is the free energy audit?

Commercial customers, including farm businesses, can get a full energy audit worth €2,000 from Irish Wind & Solar free of charge. It looks at where your power goes and which mix of solar, wind and storage makes sense. Find out more on our free energy audit page.

Get expert advice for your farm

Irish Wind & Solar has installed over 2,000 systems in six years. We are SEAI-approved installers and we work with farms of every size, from small suckler holdings to large dairy units. Whether you are looking at solar, wind or a hybrid system, we will give you an honest view of what will pay off.

Contact us to book your free farm energy audit or get a quote.

Related: see our Irish wind turbines page for home and farm turbine installs, or try the wind turbine calculator.