Grants for Solar Panels
If you’re reading this, you are probably thinking about making the switch to solar PV and rightly so, with the electricity prices on an upward spiral it is not surprising that you would be looking for ways to reduce your ever-increasing electricity bills. With the climate crisis we find ourselves in, its only natural that you would want to do you bit for the environment to pave the way for a brighter future for our children and indeed many generations to come.
Sometimes we can get side-tracked by our busy work lives and held back by our stretched budgets, we tend to put things like solar panels and renewable energy on the backburner for another day, but the time is now, the electricity prices are not going down and the climate emergency is most certainly not getting any better.
Our government have been set the task to try to push the switch to renewable energy, they have set out a 2030 climate action plan to give us guidelines about to where we need to be in less than 10 years and the stark reality is that we are very far behind, not only these targets but also many other European countries when it comes to implementing renewable energy measures across the Irish isle.
Are Solar Panels Worth the Investment?
Solar PV is undoubtedly a great investment with an average payback of 8 years and a working lifetime of 35 years and beyond, depending on what manufacturer you opt for (we recommend using European models as they have more comprehensive testing standards). The fact that they have no moving parts, mean that solar PV is pretty much maintenance free, meaning that the initial investment is generally the only expense you will encounter, except for maybe an inverter replacement ten years down the line.
As previously stated, solar panels are an investment with prices starting from around €6,000 depending on the system designed for you by your installer. Sizing a system is something which would require an onsite survey as we need to get out to the property and have a look at things like your roof space, orientation, electric bills and most importantly discuss your lifestyle. Things like when you’re at home and how you use the electricity are critical to sizing a system. If an installer is quoting you without a thorough consultation, it is likely that you will end up with a system that will underperform, and ROI that will reduce significantly. That is why you should always choose an SEAI approved installer.
A solar PV installation can require quite a substantial lumpsum from the homeowner, but there is help out there, specifically from the SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland). The good news is that there is grant assistance of up to €2,400 for the installation of solar panels (PV) and a battery for a residential customer.
Let’s take a minute to break the grant amounts down as it can be a little confusing if you are looking at it for the first time, SEAI solar PV grants can vary from €900 right up to €2,400 for installing solar PV in your home.
In saying that, the minimum solar installation is generally above 2kwp so you can look at €1,800 for the lower end of the scale for solar PV installations.
Below you will see a chart which will break it down a little more.
Grant |
Value |
| Solar PV | €900 per kWp up to 2kWp |
| Solar PV |
An additional €300 for every kWp up to a max of 4kWp Total Solar PV grant capped at €2400 |
Solar Panel Grant Eligibility (Solar PV)
Grant eligibility is another thing you need to take into consideration as not everyone can claim the SEAI grant entitlements, there is a misconception out there that the solar PV SEAI grants are means tested, this is incorrect, your income or employment status is not taken into account when assessing eligibility. To qualify for the grant you need to meet the following requirements.
- Home must be built and occupied prior to 2021
- You must never have been in receipt of a solar PV grant at this address in the past.
Grant paperwork can also be daunting, so it is always best to ask your installer if they have an in-house grant coordinator to handle all the paperwork.
If you are approved for the grant by the SEAI, the payment will be made into your nominated bank account within 4-6 weeks. Some installers will even deduct the grant amount from the initial cost, meaning that you don’t need to wait for the payment to come through and it reduces the capital you need for the initial investment.
Here at NRG Panel we are SEAI registered along with being triple ISO accredited.
ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management)
ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental)
ISO 45001:2018 (Health and Safety)
We have a dedicated in-house grant co-ordinator who is on hand to answer any questions you may have, why not book a no obligation consultation to see if you are grant eligible.
