Solar Grants Guide
Grants at a Glance
The grant towards your new solar PV panels comes from the SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland), and just about all homes occupied before 2021 before are eligible.
The amount you get depends on the system size you have installed, measured by your solar panel's peak power output (in kW / kWp).
| System Size | Grant Value | Solar Panel Array | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 kWp e.g. small 2 bed home | €1,950 | ~12m2 6-8 panels | |
| 3.0 kWp e.g. larger 2 bed home | €2,100 | ~14m2 7-10 panels | |
| 3.5 kWp e.g. standard 3 bed home | €2,250 | ~17m2 8-12 panels | |
| 4 kWp e.g larger 3 bed home | €2,400 | ~19m2 9-13 panels | |
| €2,400 is the maximum grant. Larger installations still get this amount. | |||
Other things you get installed (such as batteries and immersion diverters) do not effect the amount of the grant.
The grant takes the form of a once-off payment to a homeowner once all work has been completed.
Am I eligible for a grant?
There are several criteria that you must meet to avail of the grant.
- The property where the solar PV system is installed must be a private residence.
- The applicant must be the owner of the existing home.
- The property must have been built and occupied on or before the 31st of December 2020. The date your house was built is defined by your electricity meter's installation date.
- Each property can only claim the PV solar grant once. If you move house though you can claim it again at your new house (assuming it doesn't already have PV panels installed).
- Use an SEAI registered solar company (we are a registered company)
- Use newly fitted materials and products and have work done that meets the SEAI's required standards
- Get a BER assessment after the works are done using a BER assessor from SEAI's National Register.
How much is the grant worth?
The amount of grant support provided depends on the size of your installation. It's measured by the peak generation capacity of your solar panels, which is usually quoted in kW or kWp.
How the grant amount is calculated:
- €900 per kWp for the first 2kWp
- €300 for every additional kWp up to 4kWp
- Total solar PV grant capped at €2400, which you get at 4kWp or above
Examples:
- 2kWp system would get €1800 of grant support
- 3kWp system would get €2100 of grant support
- 4kWp system (or anything larger) would get €2400 of grant support
Where the level of expenditure is below the maximum grant value, only the actual expenditure will be reimbursed.
What cost can be covered under the solar PV grant?
The grant can be used towards purchasing and installing your solar PV system on your property; that is, equipment and labour.
What about batteries / immersion diverters etc?
The grant amount you received is only dependent on getting solar panels installed - there is no extra grant for things like batteries or immersion diverters.
There used to be a grant towards solar storage batteries, but that was discontinued by the SEAI a few years ago.
How do I find out what sized system would be most appropriate for my home?
If you'd like to get a rough idea you can check out our Guide to Solar Panels Costs for Homes. It has example quotes for a range of house sizes so you can get an idea of what might fit on what sized home.
For something a bit more accurate, we will gladly give you your own custom quote for a solar PV installation. As part of the process, one of our engineers will come to your home and conduct an on-site assessment. We examine and consider factors like your energy costs, when you use your energy, house age and condition. We also examine the construction of your roof, the orientation of the building, the pitch of the roof, and any local shading effects from trees or adjacent structures. We use specialist solar design software to get exactly the right solution for you and your home to maximise your energy yield.
We don't employ flashy sales guys. Our technical engineers are there to help advise you first and foremost. We will conduct an assessment and present you with your options. We will help you decide on the best solar PV system to suit your needs and then give you our quotation for your solar PV system. We don't mind if you don't go with us; we are happy with the knowledge you have been advised correctly and are doing your bit for the planet.
Can I get a solar PV system larger than 4kWp?
Yes, you can. However, the grant will only provide support for the first 4kWp of the system. There is no grant relief for additional kWp above this.
Does the grant only cover roof-mounted solar PV panels?
The solar PV scheme also supports ground mount systems that adhere to the PV solar scheme criteria.
Do I need planning permission to install solar panels to get grant approval?
No. SEAI grant approval is not tied to planning permission.
But what are the planning permission rules for home solar panels?
The installation of solar panels on domestic properties is exempt from planning permission. Since the 7th of October 2022, there is no longer a limit to the area of solar panels which can be installed on rooftops of homes, anywhere in the country. Solar installations will be able to cover the entire roof of a house. The 12m2 or 50% roof limit which previously applied to houses has been removed nationwide.
However, the are some exceptions. For example, under certain condition, properties that lie in solar safeguarding zones may have to seek planning permission. Solar safeguarding zones are necessary to address aviation safety concerns due to the potential impact of glint and glare arising from increased solar developments in proximity to sites such as airports and hospitals (which have helipads).
Our engineers will be there to help you with this and advise you on planning permission stipulations.
How do I apply for a solar PV grant?
1. Pick your solar installation company
Before you can apply you need an agreement in place with an SEAI approved solar installer (like us). The installer you use must be registered with the SEAI for you to be eligible for the SEAI solar grant.
2. Apply via SEAI website
Apply on the SEAI website for solar electricity grant . You can use our SEAI Solar PV Grant Application Guide to help you through the application process. It is straightforward and we are here to help you if you've any questions. The approval is normally just about instantaneous - most people will receive an email in just a few minutes saying their SEAI solar panel grant is approved. You need this approval before works can commence.
3. Get your panels installed
Next is to get your solar panels installed and "commissioned", which is the fancy term for running the standard tests and turning your new system on.
4. Paperwork our end & the new BER certificate
As soon as your system is up and running we can send our paperwork into the SEAI. This is to confirm to the SEAI that we, as an SEAI registered solar installer, have fitted your system and it is up and running.
You also need a post-works BER certificate with your new improved building energy rating.
5. Receive your grant payment
It normally takes them around 6 weeks from receiving that confirmation until the money is in your account.
What information do I need to apply?
1. MPRN - the Meter Point Reference Number. This number appears on your electricity bill and is 11 digits long. The address associated with the MPRN will be the contact address used by SEAI for all postal correspondence. You should ensure that the details registered with ESB networks for this MPRN are correct and accurate.
2. The year in which your house was built and occupied (must be on or before the 31st of December 2020).
3. Your selected registered PV solar installation company
4. Details of the system to be installed
5. Your contact email address
Applications must be submitted by private individuals and not by companies or contractors. However, we understand how intimidating and complicated these things can seem, so our friendly and helpful team will be there to support you through the process.
Can PureVolt Solar help me with the SEAI grant application?
Of course. Thankfully it really is quite straightforward, but if you've any questions along the way just ask and we'll be glad to help.
What happens once the grant is approved?
You will receive notification that the grant has been approved via email. The first thing that must happen is that applicants must ensure that they accept their grant offer and the attaching terms and conditions.
Once you have accepted your grant offer, you have 8 months to complete the works and submit the all required documentation to the SEAI.
The next step is that your installation company must apply to ESB Networks to connect the solar PV system to the electricity network. They must do this before installing the solar PV system. This application process takes about 4 weeks.
Once this is complete, your installation company can begin your installation.
Can I change my mind on what system I am installing after grant approval?
The grant, once approved, is only payable in respect of the type of system and works that were laid out in your application and referenced in the grant offer.
Can I begin my installation while waiting for my grant to be approved?
No. Grant approval from SEAI must be in place before any purchase of materials or commencement of any works. Any installation or expenditure incurred before this will be deemed ineligible.
Will I receive the grant before installing my solar PV system?
No. The SEAI will only release grant payments once it receives confirmation that all the works and measures have been completed and the installation company has been paid.
How long does it take for the payment to come through?
When all the relevant documentation has been submitted online, it takes around 6 weeks for the SEAI to process your claim and make the payment. However, occasionally the SEAI will conduct inspections (see below, other information on grants). When this happens, your payment will take a little longer.
How will the grant payment be made?
Payments are only made by electronic fund transfer (EFT) into the bank account nominated by the homeowner on the application.
What happens once the solar panel installation is complete?
Once the solar panel installation has been complete, you must get a post works BER rating carried out on your home. We endeavour to make the whole process as easy as possible for you. Therefore, if you wish, we will organise this for you as an optional extra. Just speak with our engineer and let him know you would like us to take care of this for you, and we will arrange everything.
When the post works BER rating is done, we will complete a 'Declaration of Works' Form, which describes the works completed and ensure that we have all the necessary information and documentation to support the grant payment processing. We will submit all of this online for you.
Extra grant for residents of certain islands
People living on all the below islands are eligible for 50% extra grant:
- An tOileán Rua
- Árainn Mhór
- Bere Island
- Claggan
- Clare Island
- Clynish
- Coney
- Dernish
- Dursey
- Gabhla
- Heir
- Inis Bigil
- Inis Bó Finne
- Inis Fraoigh
- Inis Meáin
- Inis Mór
- Inis Oírr
- Inis Trá Mhór
- Inisgort
- Inishbofin
- Inishcuttle
- Inishlyre
- Inishnakillew
- Inishturk
- Islandmore
- Long
- Oileán Chléire
- Omey
- Rathlin
- Sherkin
- Toraigh
- Whiddy
This 50% extra applies to all the Better Energy Home grants (including insulation, solar and many more).
You can find our more about extended solar grants for residents of certain islands here on the SEAI website
Other information on grants
All installations may be subject to inspections by SEAI to verify that they match the grant claim, meet the scheme's requirements, or for quality purposes. Properties may be selected by a random sampling process, or chosen for specific reasons. The SEAI will notify homeowners before such inspections. Where selected, applicants are required to grant access to their home for inspection within a specified period, failure of which may lead to grant refusal or grant clawback. Applicants must give access to their home for inspection within 14 days of the initial request unless agreed otherwise.
The applicant may be requested to participate in follow-up research as may be commissioned by SEAI to establish the scheme's impacts and achievements. This will also include acquiring information and data for the development of case studies for wider dissemination (protecting as appropriate all personal data, confidential or commercially sensitive information).
The solar PV system, battery energy storage system and meter point data may be used by SEAI or its agents to assess the impact of micro-generation on the local electricity system and the development of future methods. SEAI may assess this data directly or share aggregated data with third parties for analysis purposes.
If you have any unanswered questions about solar panel installation and you would like to find out more, please visit our page on commonly asked questions
Further Reading
You can also find out more on the SEAI's website about Solar Electricity Grants .
The Citizen's Information website also has a good page about Individual home energy upgrade grants (Better Energy Homes) , which covers the solar grants amongst other home improvement grants.
