Farmers invest in clean energy, still awaiting greater grid access

Dairy farmers are among the earliest business and community groups to have invested in renewable energy, but are they happy with progress at a national level? Rachel Martin, Farming Editor, reports

A turbine on the wind farm at Grange, Thurles, Co Tipperary. Wind energy is a key player in Ireland's stated ambition to reach 80% of national energy usage coming from renewable sources by 2030.

Forget the old adage of making hay while the sun shines, the modern dairy farmer is more concerned with looking to the sky and making power.

With vast volumes of energy required for pumping milking, heating water and cooling milk, dairy farms have been among the worst hit by spiralling costs over the last two years.