Techno-Economic Assessment of a Grid-Connected Solar Photovoltaic System for a Dairy Farm in Ireland

The agricultural sector in Ireland faces increasing economic pressure due to the high cost of fossil fuel-based electricity. This study investigates the adoption of photovoltaic (PV) systems in Ireland’s dairy farming sector through a detailed techno-economic assessment. Using actual solar irra-diance data from Cork City, Ireland, the research evaluates the solar energy potential while incorporating feed-in tariffs (FiT), time-of-use (ToU) electricity prices, and annual energy consumption data of 20,779 kWh from a dairy farm as a case study. Simulations performed in MATLAB reveal that a system design consisting of 36 PV modules of 405 Wp, 8 battery modules (1.28 kWh each), and a 6 kW inverter can supply 16,997 kWh, reducing grid electricity usage to 6,211 kWh. These results indicate PV-Bat system contribution of nearly 80% to reduce grid electricity use. The economic assessment reveals a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of €9.39 cents/kWh, significantly lower than Ireland’s grid electricity prices, with a payback period (PBP) of 5.4 years over an applicable 15-year timeframe. These findings demonstrate the technical and economic viability of grid-connected PV systems for Irish dairy farms, offering actionable insights to reduce operational costs and enhance energy efficiency in the sector.