Milking The Sun: Irish Dairy Giant Bets Big on Solar Power

Ireland’s largest dairy farm isn’t just milking cows anymore—they’re milking sunshine with a massive solar project that could power 52,000 homes.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: In a groundbreaking business pivot, Greenhills Farm—Ireland’s largest dairy operation with over 1,100 cows—has partnered with energy giant Ørsted to develop a 250 MW solar project on their East Cork property. While maintaining dairy production for now, the Browne family’s strategic diversification into energy generation leverages government incentives that enable solar installations to pay for themselves within three years. This landmark transformation signals a potential watershed moment for agricultural land use, where innovative dairy operations generate revenue from milk production and renewable energy, despite some local opposition concerns about the conversion of prime farmland.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• With 60% government grants under TAMS 3, solar installations on dairy farms can achieve payback periods of just 3 years while creating a stable income stream unaffected by milk price volatility
• The Browne family, known for innovation after holding one of Ireland’s largest milk quotas, is pioneering a dual-use approach where milk and megawatts become farm outputs.
• Ireland exports approximately 90% of its dairy production, suggesting some flexibility in land use without threatening food security.
• Solar economics for dairy farms are compelling: €12 electricity cost per 1,000 liters of milk versus potential income of 14-20 cents per kilowatt-hour from solar exports.
• Progressive dairy operations are increasingly measuring success by milk output and total farm income diversification, suggesting a fundamental shift in farm business models.

In a move sending shockwaves through dairy circles worldwide, Ireland’s largest milk producer is swapping prime grazing land for rows of gleaming solar panels. Greenhills Farm’s partnership with energy giant Ørsted isn’t just another sustainability story—it’s a calculated business pivot that forces every dairy producer to ask: should your land be harvesting sunshine instead of just growing grass?

DAIRY POWERHOUSE PLUGS INTO THE ENERGY GRID

Greenhills Farm in Killeagh, East Cork, home to more than 1,100 dairy cows and recognized as Ireland’s largest dairy operation, has announced a landmark partnership with renewable energy powerhouse Ørsted to develop a massive 250 MW solar project.

This isn’t some token green initiative with a few panels on the milking parlor roof—we’re talking about a serious energy production facility expected to power over 52,000 homes annually.

“We are proud to have built a reputation as a leader in Irish dairy, and now we are excited to play a role in providing reliable renewable energy generation.” — Tom Browne, Greenhills Farm.

The Browne family—Tom, Elizabeth, and their son Simon—farms more than 1,100 acres of both owned and rented land, milking more than 1,100 cows and supplying Dairygold. They’ve always been agricultural innovators.

Tom Browne held one of the largest milk quotas in Ireland before quotas were abolished and was a major sugar beet producer before that industry wound down in 2005-2006. Now, they’re pioneering again—this time in energy production.

Ørsted’s Vice President of Onshore Ireland & UK, TJ Hunter, framed the partnership as a stepping stone toward Ireland’s ambitious goal of reaching 8 GW of solar energy by 2030.

But let’s be clear—this isn’t just about green energy credentials. It’s about cold, hard cash and a shrewd business family making a calculated decision about the highest and best use of their land assets.

TIMELINE AND PROJECT DETAILS

According to the announcement made on March 18, 2025, this project represents an early step in what will likely be a multi-year development process. “A landowner lease agreement is a significant milestone, but it is also a very early step on the journey to developing a renewable energy project,” said Ørsted onshore Ireland and UK vice president TJ Hunter.

The project delivery timeline will depend on securing planning approval, with Ørsted committing to “engage closely with the local community and stakeholders to establish the right approach for the area.”

This 250 MW development adds to Ørsted’s growing renewable portfolio in Ireland, which currently includes 373 MW of onshore wind across the island. In solar specifically, the company’s near-term pipeline currently stands at over 700 MW, positioning them as a major player in helping Ireland reach its ambitious 2030 renewable energy targets.

FARM AND SOLAR TOGETHER: WHAT’S THE PLAN?

One key detail that should interest dairy producers is that the Browns aren’t abandoning dairy production. According to recent reports, “Dairy farming will continue on the land for now, and the breakdown of dairying versus energy production will be made later.”

This approach of maintaining agricultural production alongside solar generation—sometimes called “agrivoltaics”—is gaining traction globally. In some solar installations, sheep grazing has proven compatible with ground-mounted panels, providing animals shade while managing vegetation without chemical intervention.

“This area has some of the country’s best solar energy generating conditions,” noted TJ Hunter, “and when completed, this project has the potential to generate enough renewable energy to power over 52,000 homes.”

BOTTOM LINE FOR YOUR FARM

Is Solar the new cash cow? Consider these facts:

• Typical dairy farm electricity cost: €12 per 1,000 liters of milk produced
• Solar panel payback period with 60% TAMS grant: Just 3 years
• TAMS 3 grant ceiling: €90,000 specifically for solar (doesn’t affect other TAMS allocations)
• Clean Export Guarantee payment: 14-20 cents per unit exported to the grid
• Average 100-cow farm electricity use: 25,000 kWh annually

SHOW ME THE MONEY: SUNSHINE VS. MILK SOLIDS

While the Browns haven’t disclosed the financial specifics of their arrangement with Ørsted, research from Teagasc illuminates why dairy farmers nationwide are seriously considering solar.

With electricity now costing dairy farms approximately €12.00 per 1,000 liters of milk sold, power has become a significant expense category that demands attention.

The game-changer? Government support dramatically improves the economy. Teagasc researcher John Upton reports that with the new 60% grant aid proposed under TAMS 3, the payback period for solar installations shrinks to just three years.

Even better—unlike previous programs, farmers can now collect both the TAMS grant and the Clean Export Guarantee payments of 14-20 cents per kilowatt-hour sent back to the grid.

“With the new TAMS 3 provisions, solar PV systems will become a beautiful investment for farmers. The 60% grant aid means payback periods of just three years are realistic for most dairy farms.” — John Upton, Teagasc Energy Specialist

Want complex numbers to make your decision? Teagasc research outlines what you can expect from solar investments in a typical 100-cow operation. Note how dramatically the government’s 60% grant slashes payback periods – cutting wait time for return on investment from 7.5 years to just 3 years:

Table 1: Effect of SCIS on payback (100-cow farm)

Ask yourself: What other farm investment pays for itself in three years while reducing your carbon footprint and creating predictable income regardless of milk price?

The math is compelling for a typical 100-cow dairy farm consuming around 25,000 kWh annually. But Greenhills operates at an entirely different scale with its herd of more than 1,100 cows.

Their electricity consumption is likely ten times higher, but the solar project they’re building goes far beyond self-consumption. It is about becoming a commercial energy exporter.

TWO INCOME STREAMS: MILK AND MEGAWATTS

Greenhills Farm hasn’t abandoned dairy—their 1,100-cow herd continues operating, at least for now. But they’ve recognized something that should make every dairy producer sit up and notice: sometimes, your land might be worth more by producing something other than feed for your cows.

The East Cork location provides “some of the country’s best solar energy generating conditions,” according to Ørsted. Still, the reality is that much of Ireland’s dairyland could potentially serve this dual purpose.

This creates a fascinating tension between food production and energy generation that could reshape rural landscapes across dairy regions.

THE LOCAL REACTION: NOT ALL SUNSHINE

Not everyone is celebrating this dairy-to-solar transition. The “rampant growth” of solar farms in east Cork was raised in the Dáil by local Fianna Fáil TD James O’Connor, who highlighted developments ranging from 450 to 1,200 acres.

More pointedly, O’Connor claimed one project “will potentially remove the largest single cow herd in the country”—an apparent reference to Greenhills Farm.

“I am now extremely concerned about the rampant growth of solar farms in east Cork… there are plans for 450-1,200 acres of solar that will potentially remove the largest single cow herd in the country.” — James O’Connor TD, speaking in the Dáil.

This raises legitimate questions: Is prime agricultural land being diverted from food production at a time when global food security remains uncertain? Or is this simply the next evolution of farming—where land produces both calories and kilowatts?

Industry experts point out that Ireland ranks among the world’s most food-secure nations, exporting approximately 90% of its dairy production. This suggests some flexibility in land allocation without threatening food supply, though the debate continues about the best use of prime agricultural land.

BEFORE YOU JUMP IN: PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Before rushing into solar, Teagasc experts recommend dairy farmers maximize energy efficiency through measures like variable-speed drives and plate coolers. These technologies often have even shorter payback periods than solar installations.

For those ready to take the solar plunge, several practical considerations emerge:

1. System sizing is critical: TAMS grants limit systems to self-consumption needs, with a formula of maximum kWp = annual consumption ÷ 950 kWh
2. Storage options extend benefits: Electric water heaters and ice-bank bulk tanks can store energy during peak production times.
3. Battery storage: While likely to be grant-aided under the new TAMS, alternative storage solutions may offer better returns initially
4. Grid connection capabilities: The ESB infrastructure on your farm will determine the maximum export capacity

In terms of grid connection specifically, the mini generation scheme announced in 2022 has a maximum size of 17kWp for a single-phase supply, and while it’s 50kWp for a three-phase supply, the maximum import capacity for most farms is 29kVa.

ARE YOU BEING LEFT BEHIND?

The Browne family’s bold pivot signals a potential watershed moment for dairy producers worldwide. By leveraging their land assets for traditional dairy production and large-scale solar generation, they’re writing a new playbook for agricultural land use that combines food security with energy security.

For dairy farmers large and small, the message couldn’t be clearer: the most progressive operations are no longer solely concerned with milk production—they’re also considering total farm output and revenue diversification.

Ask yourself these hard questions:

• Is your farm business model as forward-thinking as the Brownes’?
• What would a solar assessment of your property reveal about untapped income potential?
• Are you still thinking of yourself as a milk producer when you could be an energy producer, too?

The dairy industry has continuously evolved to meet changing markets and technologies. The Greenhills solar project suggests that the next evolution might not be about how we produce milk but what else we produce alongside it.

Don’t be left behind in the shadows while innovators like the Brownes milk the cows AND the sun.

Learn more:

• POWER PLAY: Top 7 Energy-Saving Technologies Every Modern Dairy Farm Needs Now
• BEYOND THE BULK TANK: How Elite Dairy Producers Are Creating Six-Figure Side Incomes
• THE SOLAR MILK REVOLUTION: Dutch Dairy Farms Generating More Profit From Panels Than Cows

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