Solar Panels for Farms in County Tyrone

Specialist agricultural solar PV across County Tyrone and the wider County Tyrone area, including County Londonderry, County Fermanagh, County Armagh. MCS-certified, FETF grant-backed, fixed-price proposals within 7 working days.

Solar panels for farms across County Tyrone

County Tyrone is Northern Ireland’s largest county by area and one of its most rural — 178,000 residents spread across upland sheep country in the Sperrins, mixed dairy and beef in Mid Ulster, and the Lough Neagh-shore poultry belt. The county supports roughly 5,800 active farm holdings working 270,000+ hectares, making it NI’s most agriculturally significant county after Down. Farm sizes are typically smaller than the NI average reflecting the historic land tenure pattern, with family farming traditions strongest in the western and central uplands.

We deliver MCS-certified solar PV across the whole of County Tyrone for dairy, beef, sheep, poultry and mixed enterprises. Every project starts with half-hourly meter data analysis, NIE Networks grid connection assessment, DAERA Farm Energy Efficiency Scheme application and a fixed-price proposal within 7 working days. Our teams cover Omagh, Cookstown, Dungannon, Strabane, Coalisland, Castlederg, Aughnacloy, Fivemiletown, Plumbridge and the surrounding rural areas.

County Tyrone’s farming landscape

The Sperrin Mountains AONB in the north covers 1,200 km² of upland sheep and beef farming — predominantly Scottish Blackface and Cheviot flocks on improved hill pasture. Designation constrains visual impact for ground-mount; roof-mounted PV on existing farm buildings is generally acceptable.

The Mid Ulster lowlands around Cookstown, Dungannon and Coalisland support intensive dairy and mixed farming on richer drumlin soils — predominantly Friesian-Holstein dairies milking 150–400 head, supplying Dale Farm and Lakeland Dairies. This is where most of Tyrone’s larger solar opportunities sit.

The Lough Neagh western shore around Coalisland and Stewartstown supports significant poultry production — broiler and laying units with substantial roof areas and high baseload electricity demand. NI’s biggest poultry processors (Moy Park, Dunbia) source heavily from this region.

The Strabane and West Tyrone area supports mixed dairy and beef on smaller family farms, with extensive sheep on the upland fringes. Strong commitment to direct-to-consumer sales and farm-shop branding makes solar credentials commercially valuable.

The Clogher Valley in the south supports mixed dairy and arable on richer south-facing slopes, with significant horticulture under glass and polytunnels around Fivemiletown.

Grid connection — NIE Networks

All County Tyrone farm solar projects connect through NIE Networks. Typical timeline: 6–10 weeks for sub-100kW G98 applications, 10–16 weeks for G99 applications above. Rural three-phase capacity in the Sperrins and west Tyrone is sometimes constrained — the planned 2026–2028 reinforcement program improves capacity for larger projects.

DAERA Farm Energy Efficiency Scheme

County Tyrone farms qualify for DAERA Farm Energy Efficiency Scheme at up to 40% capital. The 2026 window opens spring with 6–8 week application period. We have a 91% approval rate on County Tyrone DAERA submissions. DAERA scoring favours high-baseload poultry units and intensive dairies — Tyrone’s strongest farm types.

Recent County Tyrone installations

• 95kWp mixed farm install, Sperrin foothills near Cookstown (2024) — 200-cow Friesian dairy + 1,200-acre arable + 80-head suckler beef. Annual saving £20,400, payback 2.5 years with DAERA grant.
• 210kWp poultry shed install near Coalisland (2024) — 28,000-bird broiler operation. Annual saving £56,800, payback 1.5 years — fastest Tyrone payback in 2024.
• 48kWp Strabane mixed farm install (2024) — 180-acre arable + 40-head suckler beef. Annual saving £9,400, payback 3.4 years.

Frequently asked questions

Do Sperrins AONB farms qualify for solar PV?

Yes. Roof-mounted PV on existing agricultural buildings within the Sperrins AONB is generally permitted development. Ground-mounted arrays need full planning with landscape impact assessment and we have delivered projects in the AONB successfully.

Is solar viable in west Tyrone given the upland climate?

Yes. Annual irradiance across Tyrone uplands sits at 920–980 kWh/kWp — lower than southern England but still delivering 3–5 year payback for high-baseload farms. The strong summer daylight more than compensates for shorter winter days.

Can DAERA stack with NI farm capital allowances?

Yes. DAERA grant covers up to 40% capital; the residual qualifies for 100% Annual Investment Allowance up to the £1m cap. For a profitable NI farm business paying corporation tax, that means total support can exceed 55% of installed cost.

How long does a Tyrone farm install take from quote to commissioning?

Typically 14–24 weeks. Desk feasibility within 3 days, site survey within 2 weeks, fixed-price proposal in week 3, NIE G99 application weeks 5–14, DAERA paperwork weeks 5–10, installation weeks 14–22.

Get a County Tyrone farm solar quote

Free desk feasibility from your half-hourly meter data. Fixed-price proposal within 7 working days. DAERA application prepared as part of the quote. We cover the whole of County Tyrone from our Belfast partner hub.

Request a County Tyrone quote →