There are multiple sources of grants and other financial assistance to help with the cost of installing commercial solar panels on businesses, farms, community and public sector buildings.

The primary source of grant funding for commercial solar panels is the SEAI Non-Domestic Microgen Scheme which provides up to €162,600 for businesses and many other buildings which are not homes to install solar panels.

Commercial Solar grant
The key takeaways:
  • SEAI Non-Domestic Microgen Grant provides up to €162,600 grant for commercial solar panels.
  • EXEED Grant Scheme offers up to €3 million for major energy efficiency projects.
  • Solar Capital Investment Scheme provides up to €90,000 for solar panels on farms.

Table of Content

SEAI Grants for Commercial Solar Panels

The SEAI operates two main schemes which can provide grant funding for commercial solar panels. These are the Non-Domestic Microgen Grant Scheme and the EXEED Grant Scheme.

The Non-Domestic Microgen Grant Scheme can provide up to a maximum of €162,600 specifically for the installation of commercial solar panels.

The EXEED Grant Scheme offers a maximum of €3 million for companies carrying out massive energy efficiency improvements to an existing or new premises, which can include measures such as solar panels.

Commercial solar panel grants in Ireland

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Non-Domestic Microgen Grant Scheme

The Non-Domestic Microgen Grant Scheme is the main source of funding for commercial solar panels from the SEAI, offering grants of up to €162,600 for the design, purchase, and installation of solar PV systems.

The scheme offers grants on based on the kilowatt-peak (kWp) power of the solar PV system, up to a maximum of 1,000kWp (1MWp). For systems larger than this the grant is capped at a maximum of €162,600.

The Non-Domestic grant for commercial solar panels is open to:

  • Businesses

  • Farms

  • Schools
  • Community Buildings
  • Public Sector
  • Non-Profits
Non-Domestic Microgen Grant Scheme for Irish organisations

Eligibility for Commercial Solar Panels Grant

In order to seek and claim the Non-Domestic Microgen Grant the applicant must meet the following criteria.

  • The premises in question must have been built and occupied prior to 2021.
  • Only one solar PV system can be supported per MPRN
  • Any premises which had previously received financial support from the SEAI for Solar PV is not eligible.
  • If state aid exceeds €10,000 in a given calendar year then a Tax Clearance Certificate will be required.
  • Only works which take place after a grant offer is accepted are eligible.
  • Applicants are not required to have a BER Certificate, or to carry out a BER Assessment after the installation of the solar panels.

Non-Domestic Microgen Grant Values

The Non-Domestic Microgen grant is paid out per per kilowatt hour peak (kWp) of the solar panel system installed on the premises, with different brackets of how much each kWp is worth depending on the size of the solar PV system.

Solar Panels Installed Capacity Grant Paid per kWp Capacity
0 – 2kWp €900
2.1kWp – 4kWp €300 per kWp
4kWp  €2,400 maximum
5kWp €2,400 maximum
6kWp €2,400 maximum
7kWp – 20kWp €300 per kWp
21kWp – 200kWp €200 per kWp
201kWp – 1,000kWp (1MWp) €150 per kWp

For example, a 20kWp solar PV system would be awarded a grant totalling €6,600. Further examples of prospective grants for different sized solar panel systems can be seen below.

Solar Panel System Size Total Grant Value
3.5kWp €2,250
8.5kWp €3,150
17kWp €5,700
32kWp €9,000
50.5kWp €12,700
107kWp €24,000
185.5kWp €39,700
315kWp €59,850
511kWp €89,250
647kWp €109,650
882kWp €144,900
957kWp €156,150

How to Apply for the Non-Domestic Microgen Grant

The grant application for the NDMG Scheme must be made online through the SEAI website and the works carried out using a registered installer.

  • Select a Solar PV Installer from the SEAI’s list of approved and registered companies, and have them provide a design for the planned installation.
  • Make the grant application online through the SEAI’s online portal. For the application the following information is required.
  • MPRN of the relevant premises.
  • Year in which the building was built.
  • Company which is carrying out the installation.
  • Details of the planned solar PV system.
  • Contact details for the company and relevant business identifier.
  • Once a grant offer has been accepted, the applicant has eight months to carry out the solar PV installation before it expires.
  • Have the installation works carried out by the selected installer.
  • Claim the grant after works are completed. The installer will have to upload the following information to the claims portal.
  • A Declaration of Works form.
  • A Test and Commissioning Certificate.
  • A Safe Electric (RECI) copy of Certificate.
  • A Completed ESB Networks NC5, or NC6, or NC7, or NC8 Form
  • An Invoice describing works completed
  • Photographs of the installation as described in the Declaration of Works Form

If a Non-Domestic Microgen Grant is used to install solar panels, then the SEAI may carry out an audit and inspection to ensure that the installation matches what was placed in the grant application.

The SEAI may also request the grant applicant to take part in follow up research to study the grant scheme’s impact and achievements.

Community Grant Scheme

The Community Grant Scheme is designed to support large projects promoting energy efficiency upgrades to a wide range of buildings of multiple uses in the community in question.

In order to qualify for this grant scheme upgrades such as solar panels must be installed on multiple buildings with different uses in the community.

The scheme aims to make local businesses more competitive by reducing energy costs, as well as making homes more comfortable for people to live in.

Buildings and organisations which can receive funding for solar panels under this scheme include:

  • GAA clubs and other sports facilities
  • local authorities
  • retail outlets
  • factories
  • community centres
  • non-profit organisations and charities
  • hotels
  • public sector facilities
  • Schools
community grant scheme

Installing solar panels and other renewable energy solutions are some of the measures supported along with upgrades to the fabric of buildings and improved heating and control systems.

The entire process is managed by a single Project Coordinator chosen from the SEAI’s approved list. Once involved they will submit the proposed project, handle the grant application, and have the works carried out.

Other Grants & Financial Supports for Commercial Solar Panels

Aside from SEAI grant schemes, there are more sources of grant funding and financial assistance for commercial solar PV projects compared with home solar panel grants. They also tend to come with a higher level of grant payment in line with the larger scope of the projects. 

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EXEED Grant Scheme

The EXEED Certified Grant provides up to €3 million in funding for businesses carrying out large scale energy efficiency projects aimed at improving existing premises or providing the highest standard for new developments.

The Excellence in Energy Efficiency Design (EXEED) Standard is meant to help businesses optimise their energy performance, reduce operating costs on heat and electricity, improve their competitiveness by cutting those costs, and promote sustainability.

Commercial solar panels are an eligible upgrade under the EXEED Grant Scheme. However, renewable energy systems such as these are only considered after energy efficiency improvements to the building fabric and systems have been addressed first.

The EXEED Scheme in its current form is open for applications until December 31, 2024.

Eligibility Requirements

The types of construction projects supported by the EXEED Grant Scheme include:

  • Greenfield design – New premises designed and built from scratch
  • Brownfield design – A new build or repurposing of an existing asset
  • Major renovation of Existing Asset – A major upgrade of an existing premises where improving its energy performance is not the main goal of the project
  • Major Energy upgrade to existing asset – An upgrade project where energy performance is the main priority.

There are two phases of the EXEED Grant:

Phase 1 – Provides funding for professional services in the planning and preparation stage of the project. Up to 50% of the costs at this stage are typically funded.

Phase 2 – Covers around 50% of the pre-investment costs and 30% of the capital expenditure on actually implementing the project.

EXEED Grant for solar panels

Solar Panel Grant for Irish Farms

The Solar Capital Investment Scheme is a grant aid programme providing up to €90,000 for solar panels on Irish farms under the TAMS 3 programme.

The grant scheme is operated by the Department of Agriculture, offering up to 60% of the funding for solar PV system installation on Irish farms, up to a maximum of €90,000.

This grant, which is part of the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme III, is meant to encourage the usage of renewable energy on farm holdings and lower the carbon footprint of the agricultural sector.

Why Solar Panels are Ideal for Irish Farms

Eligibility Requirements

  • Farmers must have a minimum of five hectares of land which is owned, leased, or rented and declared under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS), or equivalent,
  • The grant has an investment ceiling of €90,000, or 60% of the eligible project costs, per holding.
  • Applications may be rejected if the Department determines that holdings have been artificially created in order to draw down the maximum grant.
  • Multiple applications are allowed per tranche of the scheme, with a minimum cost eligible for investment of €2,000.
  • If a holding is jointly managed by multiple entities only one claim may be submitted in relation to that holding.
  • The electricity generated by solar PV panels must be primarily used for self-consumption on the farm holding for agricultural purposes.

How to Apply for Solar Grant for Farms

Applications for the Solar Capital Investment Scheme grants for farm solar panels must be made online through the online portal at agfood.ie. Manual applications will not be accepted by the Department.

The following documents are required to make an application for this grant:

  • On Farm Solar PV Survey
  • Farmyard and Structure Layout Plan (with GPS reference)
  • Site location map identifying the location of the proposed solar panels (with GPS reference)
  • Ownership documents for land which identify location of proposed solar panels
  • A copy of a company’s Companies Registration Office Certificate and Memorandum and Articles of Association or one document constitution;
  • Proof of planning permission if relevant with a copy of any Environmental Impact Assessment, and copies of drawings from the planning application.
  • An Engineer’s Report in some cases
  • Evidence of leasehold title (copy of valid lease including maps) for each site.

Applications are assessed on the following criteria:

  • Age of the farmer applying (priorty given to younger applicants).
  • Size of the holding in the application
  • If any part of the holding is located in an Area of Natural Constraint
  • Payments made under TAMS II Scheme

The solar panels must be installed and the grant claimed within 12 months of the grant being approved.

Accelerated Capital Allowance

The Accelerated Capital Allowance is a tax break meant to encourage businesses to invest in energy efficient equipment and technologies by allowing them to write off the cost against their profits.

Based on the existing ‘Wear and Tear’ Allowance, the ACA allows businesses, farmers, and sole traders to deduct the cost of certain energy efficient equipment from their taxable profits that year.

This includes renewable energy technology such as solar panels, inverters, and solar thermal panels.

Eligibility Requirements

  • The chosen equipment must be on the Triple E register.
  • Expenditure on the solar PV equipment being claimed must exceed €1,000
  • The solar panels or other solar PV or thermal equipment must be bought new and for use in the business.
  • The ACA can only be claimed within the same fiscal year in which the solar equipment was first purchased.

How to Claim ACA

  • Decide on the equipment being purchased
  • Check this against the ACA register
  • Claim the tax allowance through the CT1 Return of Income Form in the relevant section.

FAQs

The SEAI’s grant for commercial solar panels typically takes 4 to 6 weeks to be paid after all documentation is submitted.

Most rooftop solar panels are exempt from needing planning permission unless they are located in a designated area near an airport, airfield, or helipad. Ground-mounted solar panels are also exempt as long as the total area does not exceed 75m².

Solar panels grants from the SEAI for both homes and businesses are available for new build and existing homes and other properties.

Commercial solar panel grants FAQs

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  • SEAI Authorised
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  • Fully Vetted
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