AgReGen: Optimal pathways for the proliferation of renewable microgeneration in the Irish Agri-sector

Project Description

At present, it is unknown what size of PV system is most suitable for a particular farm, given the large number of farm specific parameters that strongly influence this decision. At a national-level, it is unknown what potential maximum renewable generation capacity could be installed if the 135,000 eligible farms were to adopt PV microgeneration within the on-farm and local electrical infrastructural limitations.

AgReGen aims to quantify these unknowns and find the optimal future pathways for renewable microgeneration on Irish farms through a two-level approach:

• A tool will be developed for deployment at farm level, which will calculate the optimal size of PV system based on the unique conditions of each farm.

• A national-level analysis of all eligible farms across Ireland will be carried out based on their infrastructural parameters. The analysis will determine both the potential maximum and the most economically optimal renewable microgeneration capacity level.

AgReGen will offer agricultural sustainability stakeholders with an evidence-based solution on how to

achieve national targets using renewable microgeneration, energy storage and demand response

technologies that can be swiftly implemented on-farm, while accounting for future changes in economic conditions, farm infrastructural updates and advances in Ireland’s electricity grid.