Written by: Briain Kelly, Editor
Solar panels Ireland cost calculator
With our simple tool you can get a quick estimate of the cost of installing a home solar PV system. These estimates are based on the number of panels you get, whether you receive the SEAI grant, and if you include a solar battery.
How many solar panels do you need?
A 10 panel solar installation (4.4kWp) is suitable for an average three-bedroom house.Installation Price
€6,000 – €6,600
A 10 panel solar installation (4.4kWp) is suitable for an average three-bedroom house.
For more complete information about getting solar panels for your home, and how much you can expect to save on your electricity bills, see our full solar panels cost calculator.
We use the following assumptions to calculate the costs, savings, and payback figures in the calculator above and the examples for different-sized homes below.
Solar array: We assume 440W solar panels fitted to a south facing roof with a 35° pitch.
Solar PV prices: These include the solar panels, the installation, and all other materials such as the inverter, mounting brackets, and wiring. Batteries also require a more expensive hybrid inverter, which is included. Prices are based on data from our partner installers.
SEAI grant: A grant of up to €1,800 is available in 2026. Anyone getting 10 solar panels or more will receive the maximum grant.
Solar performance: We assume an annual output of 916.15kWh of solar electricity per kWp. This is an average figure for all of Ireland based on the Global Solar Atlas.
Electricity usage: Without a solar battery we assume a self-consumption to export ratio of 60% / 40%. Including a battery we use a ratio of 80% / 20%.
Electricity prices: To calculate savings, we use a price of €0.4042 per kWh for grid electricity, and a feed-in tariff of €0.195 per kWh of exported electricity.
Electricity savings: Our savings estimates are based on a 60/40 split of self-consumption to export for systems without a battery, and 80/20 for those with a battery.
Payback periods: The time to pay off the solar PV system is based on the upper end of the price range provided.
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Solar PV panel cost by system size
A well-sized solar PV system can offset most of your annual electricity usage – but it won’t eliminate your electricity bills entirely because production is lower in winter and doesn’t always match when you use the most power.
Homes in Ireland typically need a solar PV system between 4.4kWp and 9.68kWp in size, based on average electricity usage.
For the examples below we are including a 5kWh solar battery in the price and savings, as the majority of installations now include a battery system.
Larger systems cost less per panel. This is because the price for things like wiring, scaffolding, and labour doesn’t increase directly in line with the number of panels you install.
Solar panel cost for a 2 bedroom terraced house
A 2 bedroom terraced house uses approximately 4,185kWh of electricity a year. This merits a 4.4kWp solar PV system of 10 solar panels, requiring 21m² of roof space.
This could cost up to €9,600 with the grant and a 5kWh battery. After 25 years it will have delivered more than €27,000 in profit from lower grid imports and exported electricity, after recouping the initial investment.
25 Year ROI from 10 Solar Panels
| System Size | 4.6kWp / 10 x 440W solar panels |
|---|---|
| Power Output | ~ 4,200kW using a national average |
| System Cost | €7,700 – €9,600 with the SEAI grant |
| Electricity Savings | €1,461 per year / €36,525 in 25 years |
| Payback Period | 6 years & 7 months using the higher estimate |
| CO2 Reduction | 937kg a year, the equivalent of 27 adult trees |
Solar panel cost for a 3 bedroom semi-detached house
A standard semi-detached house uses an average of 4,648kWh of electricity per year according to CSO figures. This can be covered by a 5.28kWp solar PV system of 12 solar panels, requiring 25m² of available roof space.
The system will have a price of up to €10,400 with a battery, and will deliver a profit of over €33,000 by the end of a 25-year period.
25 Year ROI from 12 Solar Panels
| System Size | 5.28kWp / 12 x 440W solar panels |
|---|---|
| Power Output | ~ 4,837kWh using a national average |
| System Cost | €8,500 – €10,400 with SEAI grant |
| Electricity Savings | €1,753 per year / €43,825 in 25 years |
| Payback Period | 5 years & 11 months using the higher estimate |
| CO2 Reduction | 788kg a year, the equivalent of 32 adult trees |
Solar panel cost for a 4 bedroom detached house
Detached houses’ electricity usage can vary greatly. A 4 bedroom house falls just on the lower side of average, using roughly 6,450kWh of electricity per year. A 7.04kWp system of 16 solar panels and a battery would be suitable here.
The net price for this could be up to €11,700. Here we really start to see the benefit of the economies of scale with larger systems, with an estimated payback period of 5 years.
25 Year ROI from 16 Solar Panels
| System Size | 7.04kWp / 16 x 440W solar panels |
|---|---|
| Power Output | ~ 6,450kWh using a national average |
| System Cost | €9,400 – €11,700 with the SEAI grant |
| Electricity Savings | €2,337 per year / €58,425 in 25 years |
| Payback Period | 5 years using the higher estimate |
| CO2 Reduction | 1,051kg per year, the equivalent of 42 trees |
Solar panel cost for a 5+ bed detached house
A very large detached house could use close to 9,000kWh of electricity in a year. With a larger home, a 9.68kWp solar PV system of 22 panels will take advantage of the roof space available.
This system, with a battery, could cost up to €12,300. If you increase the battery storage to 10kWh or more, this will push the price higher.
25 Year ROI from 22 Solar Panels
| System Size | 9.68kWp / 22 x 440W solar panels |
|---|---|
| Power Output | 8,868kWh using a national average |
| System Cost | €10,150 – €12,300 with the SEAI grant |
| Electricity Savings | €3,213 per year / €80,335 in 25 years |
| Payback Period | 3 years & 7 months using the higher estimate |
| CO2 Reduction | 1,445kg a year, the equivalent of 58 trees |
Grant for solar panels
An SEAI grant of up to €1,800 is available to help with the cost of solar panels for homes. The value of this grant is based on the size of the solar PV system being installed, maxing out at 4kWp.
To qualify for this grant, your home must have been built and occupied before the start of 2021, and the work must be done by an installer registered with the SEAI.
Learn more about the eligibility requirements and funding for the solar panel grant.
Factors that affect solar panel installation cost
Solar array capacity
Larger solar PV systems with a greater kWp capacity cost more than smaller ones. However, the price per kWp installed decreases as the system size increases.
Roof accessibility
Roofs that are easier to access and work on make the installation process quicker and cheaper. Taller buildings will need more scaffolding, and working around complicated roof shapes can involve splitting up the solar array.
Equipment quality
Solar equipment can be more or less expensive depending on the brand, warranty protection, safety features, and manufacturing quality.
Adding a solar battery
The price for installing a 5kWh solar battery is usually between €1,700 and €3,000. Increasing this to 10kWh or 15kWh will not be twice or three times more expensive, as the installation work is mostly the same.
Optional extras
Other features that are often installed as part of a solar PV system include a power diverter (€300–€600), an EV charger (€600–€1,300), or blackout protection.
FAQs
The cost of buying one solar panel is between €75 and €150 depending on the manufacturer and the panel’s power output. This could get you a panel between 435W and 710W with different brands.
If you buy a solar panel yourself, the cost also includes VAT, which does not apply if you get solar panels with an installer contract.
Yes, many solar installers work with Finance Ireland to offer low interest loans for solar PV. Some installers, such as MySolar, also have a business model where customers pay nothing up front. Up to 25% of a loan under the Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme can be used for solar panels, with interest rates starting from 3%.
No, there is no VAT on solar panels as long as you get them as part of a supply and install contract. This means that if you contract a solar installer, a 0% VAT rate applies to both the materials and the installation work.
Most homes will not experience any hidden costs when getting solar panels installed. However, some very old homes may have to upgrade their fusebox to handle the renewable electricity flow. In addition, a home survey may reveal that your roof is not in a good enough condition for the extra weight of the panels.
A single 5kWh solar battery costs far more than a single solar panel. This means that the price difference between brands can work out to a significant amount of money for one battery module.
Most home solar PV systems will pay for themselves in 5–7 years. It can be as little as 4 years if you have a very large system, or considerably greater than 7 if you only buy a few panels. This is because savings increase faster than costs with more solar panels.
More expensive solar panels should have a manufacturer’s product warranty of 25–30 years and a performance warranty of 25–30 years guaranteeing at least 87% of their original output.
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