Table of Contents

Solar Panel Grants in Ireland 2025

Key Takeaways

  • 1
    A maximum home solar grant of €1,800 is available from the SEAI.
  • 2
    The grant is available for all homes built and occupied before 2021.
  • 3
    The grant value is based on the size of the solar PV system up to 4kWp.
  • 4
    An SEAI-registered installer must be used to avail of the Solar PV Grant.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is the provider of government-funded home solar grants. The Solar PV grant scheme is aimed at encouraging more homes to install solar panels by making this significant investment more affordable for Irish households.

The grant has a maximum value of €1,800 in 2025. However, this is being reduced by €300 a year until the scheme is planned to end in 2029. This means that now is the best time to apply for the SEAI solar grant.

The SEAI Domestic Solar PV Grant 2025

Understanding the SEAI Solar PV Grant: Eligibility and Purpose

The SEAI Solar PV Scheme is a government grant for solar panels on homes meant to improve the affordability and availability of home solar panels in Ireland.

The grant offers up to €1,800 for private homeowners to install solar PV panels. Homeowners get grant approval before the installation, and receive their grant payment after it is completed.

The purpose of this and other SEAI home improvement grants is to encourage homeowners to invest in energy-efficient upgrades. These will save homeowners money, and reduce emissions from energy expenditure.

The solar grant is available for any home built and occupied before 2021 to encourage the retrofitting of older, less energy-efficient homes. By any measure, it has been a success. In 2024, nearly 7 times as many homes installed solar panels as in 2020.

Do I qualify for a government solar grant?

The eligibility criteria for the SEAI solar grant are very broad, making it available for the vast majority of homeowners in Ireland. Your property must meet the following criteria to receive the grant.

  • 1

    Property Ownership: You must be the owner of the property subject to the grant. This can be an owner-occupied property or one which you are renting out.

  • 2

    Property Age: The property in question must have been built and occupied before December 31, 2020, to qualify for the solar grant. This is determined by when the meter was connected.

  • 3

    Previous Funding: The property cannot have previously received any grants for solar panels.

  • 4

    SEAI-Registered Installer: You must use an installer who is registered with the SEAI for their work to be eligible for the solar panel grant.

  • 5

    BER Assessment: You must get a BER Assessment done after the solar panels have been installed to receive your grant payment.

What is the best solar panel system size for my home?

The best size solar panel system for your home will depend on your roof and electricity usage. But realistically, the best answer is “as many solar panels as you can afford”. 

Larger solar PV systems pay for themselves much faster than smaller ones. There are three reasons for this:

  • 1
    Solar panel prices are currently at historically low levels
  • 2
    Installation costs only increase marginally for larger home solar PV systems
  • 3
    Electricity is currently very expensive in Ireland.

A rule of thumb is that a solar PV system should be able to produce 50% – 75% of your annual electricity usage. This will cost most households between €4,700 & €8,700 in 2025 with SEAI grant aid.

Learn more about Solar Panel Costs in Ireland.

Grant Amounts for 2025: How Financial Support is Calculated

The value of the SEAI solar grant is calculated based on the size of the solar PV system being installed. This is measured with the kilowatt peak (kWp) output capacity of the solar PV system.

Grant Rules

  • Max Grant: The grant is capped at €1,800 in 2025.

  • Capacity Limit: This cap is reached at 4kWp

  • Grant Reduction: The grant will be reduced by €300 from 2026

Payment Structure

  • 0 – 2kWp: €700 per kWp

  • 2 – 4kWp: €200 per kWp

  • Partial Sum: The €700/€200 is divided for partial kWp capacities.

Here is an example of how the solar grant would be calculated for someone getting 8 solar panels with an output of 440W each. This means the total system oupt capacity is 3.52kWp

What the SEAI Grant Covers: Eligible Solar PV Components

  • 1

    Material Components: Solar PV panels, solar inverters, wiring, and mounting systems.

  • 2

    Installation Cost: All the work involved with installing the solar PV system by your selected installer.

What the Solar PV Grant Does Not Cover

  • 1

    Optional Components: Solar batteries and power diverters are not directly supported by the grant. However, you can still install them on a grant supported system.

  • 2

    DIY Installations: You cannot claim the grant unless you are using an SEAI registered installer. If you are a registered installer, then only the material costs are eligible for DIY installation.

Step by Step: How to Apply for the SEAI Solar Grant in Ireland

Before you begin your solar grant application, thorough preparation is essential.

1. Assess Your Home Energy Usage: Determine how much energy your home uses as a starting point for determining how many solar panels you need.

2. Contact a Solar Installer: Reach out to a qualified solar installer for a free quote and assessment. We recommend using our assessment to find the best solar panel installers near you.

3. Home Assessment: The installer will assess your home and energy usage to determine the best solar PV system design for your needs.

With a chosen installer and system design, you can proceed with the formal grant application.

1. Gather Relevant Details: Ensure that you have all the necessary information about your property and the planned solar PV system for the application.

2. Make a Grant Application: Apply to the SEAI for the solar panel grant, either through their online portal or via post.

3. Await Grant Approval: Await a Letter of Offer from the SEAI with approval for the grant.

1. ESB Networks Application: Your solar installer will submit an NC6 Form to the ESB Networks to gain approval for connecting a microgeneration system to the grid.

2. Solar Installation: The selected SEAI-registered solar installer will fit your solar PV installation to the roof of your home.

3. Payment & Documentation: After installation, you pay your installer in full. They will also prepare the necessary documentation for the grant claim.

4. Obtain a BER Assessment: Once the solar panels have been installed, you must get a BER Assessment done to measure the energy efficiency of your home.

5. Submit Grant Claim: The solar installer will submit documents of the work’s completion to the SEAI to begin processing the grant payment.

6. Await Grant Payment: Once the SEAI has received this information, they will process your grant payment to the bank account provided in the application.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them: Ensuring a Smooth Application

Grant applicants can make a number of mistakes that force them to start the grant process over. In some cases, it can even result in the grant money being withheld if the mistake is bad enough.

  • 1
    Altering Your Installation: Changing the design of your solar PV installation after the grant has been approved is a hard no. If this is before work begins, you will have to start the grant process over. If you install a system that does not comply with the grant application, the SEAI may revoke the grant payment.
  • 2
    Starting Work Early: Do not start any work on your solar PV system until you have received and accepted the Letter of Offer from the SEAI. You will not be able to claim a cent for any work which took place before the approval was received.
  • 3
    Swapping Installers: Your solar grant approval is for a specific system installed by a specified contractor. If you swap installers, you have to start the grant process again or else risk it being ineligible for funding.
  • 4
    Letting the Clock Run Out: Your grant approval is viable for 8 months from the date the Letter of Offer is issued. If you wait longer than this, you must apply again. If you get solar panels installed after the 8 month deadline, this is not eligible for the grant.
  • 5
    Using Unqualified Installers: All work electrical done on your solar PV system must be done by Safe Electric registered electricians.
  • 6

    Shoddy Workmanship: All of the work in the solar PV system must comply with the SEAI’s Code of Practice, or else the grant could be revoked.

Where to Apply for the SEAI Solar Panel Grant

Applications for the SEAI solar panel grant can be made in one of two ways:

  • 1
    Through the SEAI’s online portal
  • 2
    By post to the SEAI’s head office

The simplest way to apply for the SEAI grant is through the online portal. This will greatly accelerate the approval process.

Alternatively, you can contact the SEAI at (01) 808 20 04 or solarpv@seai.ie to receive a solar grant application form by post, which will go to:

Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland
SEAI Head Office
3 Park Place
Upper Hatch Street
Dublin 2

What do I need to apply for a Solar Electricity Grant in Ireland

To apply for the SEAI solar panel grant, you will need the following personal and financial information, along with details of your property and solar PV system.

  • 1
    Personal Details: An email address for an online application or contact the SEAI at (01) 808 20 04 or solarpv@seai.ie to receive a paper application form.
  • 2
    Property Details: Your home address, including its eircode.
  • 3
    Property Age: The year in which your home was built. This is determined by when the electricity meter was first connected. Contact the ESB Networks if you are unsure of this.
  • 4
    MPRN: Your Meter Point Reference Number. This can be found at the top of your electricity bills.
  • 5
    Solar Installer: The name of the company which will be installing your solar panels.
  • 6
    Solar PV System: The size of the solar PV system being installed in kWp.
  • 7
    Bank Details: The BIC and IBAN for the account into which the grant will be paid.

Maximising Your Return: Financial Strategies Beyond the SEAI Grant

The Clean Export Guarantee (CEG): Selling Your Excess Solar Electricity

With the Clean Export Guarantee, you can be paid for any electricity made by your solar panels which goes unused. Electricity providers pay a feed-in tariff per kWh of electricity exported to the grid.

Understanding the True Investment: Calculating Your Net Costs & Payback Period in 2025

Solar panels are a significant investment for any homeowner. Before you buy, it is important to understand more about the costs of solar panels, how much they can save you, & what the payback period is.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our recommended installers will all help customers with the grant application process and paperwork to reduce hassle for customers.

Not directly. If you are in a house or apartment building with a single owner, the grant application must be made by the owner of the building. For properties with an Owner Management Company, a grant application can be made by the OMC or their designated Property Management Agency, with the approval of the OMC.

No. Homes built from 2021 onwards are not eligible for the SEAI solar panel grant.

Yes. Businesses can avail of the Non-Domestic Microgen Scheme from the SEAI. This offers a solar grant of a maximum €162,600 for businesses to install up to 1MW worth of solar panels.

No, there is no means testing for the SEAI solar panel grant in Ireland. The only eligibility criteria are for the property itself.

Yes. The government plans to reduce the solar panel grant by €300 each year until 2029, when the scheme will come to an end.

No, the SEAI solar grant only covers solar PV panels, and there is no additional grant funding for solar battery storage.

Your solar installer should provide assistance with all the paperwork needed for a solar panel grant. This includes the application and Declaration of Works needed after the installation is complete.

No, the solar panel grant does not cover any costs after the installation of the solar PV system.

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