Co. Laois in Leinster has seen a substantial rise in its population over the past 20 years – with the county recording an increase of over 50% since 2002.
The population of Laois is now 91,657 making it Ireland’s 23rd most populated county. It is also the island’s 23rd largest by area with 1,720 km2.
Solar PV panels have taken off in recent years in Laois, with more than 300 grant assisted installations taking place in the county each year.
The cost of solar panels has been decreasing steadily in recent years, and many are now considering adopting a solar installation to cut their bills. If you are considering installing solar panels, we’ve got you covered — our network of installers include only the top rated installers in Co. Laois. So, get a 100% free quote from a trusted installer today!
Laois Solar Panels Adoption
Since 2015, there have been 1,068 SEAI grant supported installations in Co. Laois, and this is rising by over 300 a year.
Of the 1,068 home solar installations that have received SEAI solar grants, 320 were awarded in the first 8 months of this year, and 368 were awarded in 2023.
In the first half of 2024, there were 26 solar panel installations for every 10,000 people in the county.
Laois Climate
Co. Laois is a landlocked county in Leinster, part of the Eastern and Midlands region. It has a moderate, temperate climate, with a far share of cloudy days. Luckily, this isn’t a problem for solar panels – they will work as long as there is sunlight!
The month with the most rainfall in the county is often December, while March is typically the driest month in Co. Laois.
July sees the highest daytime temperatures, averaging 19 degrees, and like ther rest of Ireland, January is the coldest month with daytime highs under 10 Celsius.
The month with the most sunshine in Laois is May.
Laois Sunshine Hours
While May is the sunniest month in Co. Laois, the rest of the year also sees enough sunshine for solar panels to produce electricity. Even on overcast days solar panels in Laois produce enough electricity for an average household to save hundreds of euros per year on their bills.
Laois Towns and Villages
Co. Laois is one of Ireland’s smaller counties, with fewer than 100,000 people. The two largest towns in Co. Laois are Portlaoise with 23,494 inhabitants as of 2022, and Mountmellick with 4,905 residents.
Among the many attractions in the county are the Slieve Bloom Mountains. Their height is not impressive compared to many mountain ranges in the West, but the mountains are unusual for the midlands.
| Laois Towns and Villages | Population |
|---|---|
| Portlaoise | 23,494 |
| Mountmellick | 4,905 |
| Portarlington | 9,288 |
| Abbeyleix | 1,897 |
| Mountrath | 2,070 |
| Stradbally | 1,404 |
| Rathdowney | 1,368 |
| Durrow | 946 |
| Ballylinan | 1,167 |
| Clonaslee | 608 |
Laois Housing
Central Statistics Office data from Q2 2024 shows that there are 18,522 houses in Laois with a BER score.
Of those, 30% are rated A or B – meaning Laois homes are among the most energy efficient in the country. 70% are still rated lower than B however, with 11% of homes rated F or G, showing a great need for deep retrofits in the county.
| Building Energy Rating (BER) | Total Housing Stock | Average Age | |||||||
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | |||
| Laois | 2,593 | 2,964 | 6,670 | 2,964 | 1,482 | 741 | 1,296 | 18,522 | 29 |
BER data from Q2 2024. Source: CSO.ie
