Solar Panel Cost in Ireland

The cost of solar PV panels in Ireland will depend on many factors, including your energy needs: i.e. how much electricity you wish to generate through your solar power system.

A solar PV system in Ireland typically costs between €4,000 and €16,000.

Your solar panel installation costs could be offset by SEAI grants that are available for most homeowners.

First, let’s look at the two types of solar panels you will have to choose from.

Solar PV converts the sun’s energy into electricity, which can be used in your home.

Solar thermals use solar radiation to heat water, which can also save you money on your electricity bills. These solar panels will meet about 50 to 60% of a household’s annual hot water usage.

For the vast majority of homeowners looking to install a solar energy system in Ireland, they will opt for a PV solar panel system.

Smaller solar panel systems may cost in the region of €5,000 after grants. For houses with limited roof space, this might be the best (or only) option.

Photovoltaic solar panels without a battery and of the lower standard would be adequate for an average 3-bed semi-detached family home.

People with larger homes which have a higher energy usage (and higher electricity bills) may wish to opt to install a solar panel system in the higher price range, up to around €10,000.

If you own a large home, or a business such as a B&Bs which requires much more energy than the average household, a solar panel system which meets your needs could cost in the region of €15,000.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland provides grants of up to €2,400 for those who wish to install solar panels.

These grants are available to all homeowners, including private landlords, where the homes were built and occupied prior to 2021.

For the vast majority of people, who will opt for a photovoltaic solar panel system over a thermal system, the SEAI provides grants of up to €2,400.

These grants reduce how much you will have to pay, so take this into consideration in your initial calculations of how much solar panels cost.

To find out more about the grants that are available for solar PV in Ireland, check out our extensive guide to solar panel grants here.

There are a few different parts that will make up your solar PV system, including the panels themselves, an inverter, and a battery bank – which is optional.

These are the PV panels made up of cells which contain semiconductor materials such as silicon. Solar power works when the sun’s rays interact with electrons in the silicon, creating DC electricity.

Solar inverters are a device which converts this direct current electricity into accelerating current (AC) electricity which can can be used in homes and businesses.

Solar batteries can store excess electricity which can then be utilised at night, or in winter when there is less sunlight. Batteries are optional, and can be included or left out depending on your energy needs.

It is no secret that solar panels save money on energy bills, but there are a number of other benefits of installing solar panels that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Solar panels are a renewable energy source, which will help offset your carbon footprint. By harnessing power generated by our nearest star, you are reducing your reliance on fossil fuels.

While the initial investment may seem expensive, there are little to no recurring costs associated with solar panels. This means that once your PV system is fitted, you can sit back and watch the savings with minimal effort.

Solar panels will also increase the BER energy rating of your home. A and B rated dwellings used 42 kWh of electricity per square metre in Ireland in 2021, compared with 79 kWh per square metre for D and for E. For F and G rated homes, 67 kWh were used per square metre.

It is a requirement that BER ratings are made known to any potential renters or buyers in the future.

Solar panels work by converting the sun’s rays into thermal or electrical energy.

A PV solar panel is made up of solar cells which contain silicon, or other semiconductor materials.

These contain electrons which create an electrical current when they interact with photons from the sun.

A solar inverter then converts this into AC electricity, which can be used in your home.

First, The solar panels are installed on the roof of your home.

Then the solar inverter is installed. This can be indoors or outdoors – but it is advised that it is installed indoors, in a cool and well-ventilated location.

To generate AC electricity, the inverter must be hooked up to the household unit. A meter will accompany the inverter so that electricity usage can be monitored.

The solar battery is next; this stores excess solar energy that can be used in less favourable weather conditions.

The last stage in the installation process is a diagnostics test, to ensure the solar panel system is working properly.

You will get the most out of your solar panels by having a south facing roof.

As Ireland is located north of the equator, the sun shines from the south at all times.

And the more sunlight exposure your solar panels have, the more electricity they will generate.

The panels should be angled at around 35 degrees for optimum output. Luckily, in Ireland, most homes are built with roofs between 30 and 35 degrees.

Cleaning your solar panels and ensuring there are no trees or other obstacles in the way of direct sunlight will also maximise the electricity produced by your solar panels.

Something to keep in mind when evaluating how much solar panels cost is their longevity. Modern solar panels generally last from 20 to 25 years with very little maintenance.

With the most common silicon solar panels, 1 sq. m of panels could generate 150W of power on a clear sunny day (that’s enough to power a laptop computer).

A solar PV system sized at 20 square metres (3kW) could potentially generate around 2,600 kWh of electricity.

This equates to around half of the annual electricity demand of an average Irish home.