- Solar panels will save you €426 per year, on average
- Government grants cut the typical cost of solar panels by €2,100
- A three-bedroom household will usually break even in 9.6 years
Solar panels can cut your energy bills, reduce your carbon footprint, and increase your energy independence – not to mention solar panel costs are lower than ever.
And this is the best time for people in Ireland to go solar.
Electricity prices have gone through the roof, a government grant can cut the cost of your installation by thousands of euros, and energy suppliers are set to start paying you for your excess power.
We’ll go into more detail later, but grants, like the Solar Electricity Grant or the Solar Water Heating Grant, can help you save thousands of Euros on the install. For this reason, it is really worth your time looking into them if you can.
If you’re already keen to get started with solar panels, just use our easy-to-navigate tool.
Enter a few quick details, and our trusted suppliers will be in touch with free quotes for you to compare.
Should I buy solar panels if I live in Ireland?
You should absolutely buy solar panels if you live in Ireland.
Electricity prices have risen to an eye-watering 36.83c per kWh, meaning the average three-bedroom household is set to pay €1,763 per year for electricity.
Solar panels can provide you with free, clean electricity, saving you €426 per year on average and reducing your annual carbon footprint by half a tonne of CO2.
This is the time to act, too. Government grants have cut the cost of installing solar panels by thousands of euros, meaning the typical household will save 39.5% if they buy now.
Some examples include the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) Solar PV Scheme, which is designed to help homeowners and landlords reduce their PV installation costs.
According to our calculations, the average break-even point is just 9.6 years, which should leave you with at least 15 years to rake in pure profit.
How much do solar panels cost in Ireland?
One way to estimate the cost of solar panels in Ireland in 2024 is to multiply each kW by €1,200 – €1,600. While not completely accurate, this calculation can give you a rough idea of the cost. For instance, a 5kW high-quality solar panel system could cost between €6,000 and €8,000.
In Ireland, solar panels for the average household cost €712 per high-quality 435W panel. But remember that generous government grants can currently reduce the cost by 39.5%.
This means that a 10-panel, 4.4 kWp system – which is what the typical three-bedroom home requires – costs €3,570, instead of €5,900.
The grant allows thousands more homes to buy solar panels and drastically reduces the average homeowner’s break-even point to 9.6 years.
Take a look at our rough guide to solar panel costs below. When you take government grants into consideration, they become much more affordable.
| House size | No. of panels needed | Cost with government grant | Tonnes of CO2 saved / year | Savings / year | Years to break even |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-2 bedrooms | 6 | €1,590 | 0.30 | €256 | 6.2 |
| 3 bedrooms | 10 | €3,570 | 0.49 | €426 | 8.38 |
| 4+ bedrooms | 14 | €5,580 | 0.69 | €596 | 9.36 |
If you want to find out exactly how much solar panels will cost you, it’s never been easier to find out with our free tool.
Just enter a few quick details, and our trusted suppliers will be in touch with free quotes for you to compare.
Can you get government grants for solar panels in Ireland?
Yes, there are government grants for solar panels in Ireland – and you should make the most of them while they exist.
The main grant provided by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is called the Solar PV Scheme. This grant is intended to assist homeowners, including private landlords, who want to install solar photovoltaic (PV) panels in their homes.
The Irish government has also reduced the VAT rate to 0% for purchasing new solar panels, making installation more affordable.
The government has introduced a separate scheme for businesses, public organizations, and community groups. This scheme offers grants from €2,700 for installing solar PV panels. The SEAI also administers this scheme.
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) grant
- Firstly, there’s the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) grant.
- This fantastic grant will pay you €800 per kWp until you’ve installed 2 kWp of solar panels, then €250 per kWp for the next 2 kWp, up to a maximum total of €2,100.
- So, by way of example, instead of paying €4,200 for a 4kWp system, the average household will pay €2,100.
But please note that after receiving grant approval, you will have 8 months to complete the necessary works and submit a declaration of works.
It is crucial to adhere to these timelines to ensure the grant payment. If the works are not completed within 8 months, the grant will expire and the application will be declined.
Clean Export Guarantee
- The Irish government has also launched the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG), a scheme that pays households for every kilowatt of solar energy they export to the National Grid.
- So if you don’t use all the power you generate, you can still use it to save you money.
- The six suppliers providing a CEG tariff – Bord Gais, Electric Ireland, Energia, Flogas, Pinergy, and SSE Airtricity – currently offer 24c per kWh, on average.
- That’s five times more than the rest of the UK receives through the Smart Export Guarantee.
- And you may not have to pay any tax on that income, as households are allowed to receive tax-free payments up to €400 per year for residual renewable electricity.
Do solar panels work in Irish weather?
In short, yes – solar panels definitely work in Irish weather.
- This country’s mild climate is actually an advantage for solar panel owners, as it guards against the biggest threat to their investment: overheating.
- Panels also do their best, most efficient work when the temperature is between 15°C and 35°C – which is typically the situation on any given Irish roof.
- And though it doesn’t always feel like it, Ireland is blessed with 1,350 hours of sunshine, on average – just 22 less than the UK, and more than enough to power your home.
- More sunshine would always be welcome, of course – but nevertheless, Irish households are perfectly placed to benefit from solar power.
How many people have solar panels in Ireland?
50,000 homes in Ireland have solar panels.
That means one in every 33 homes in the country is taking advantage of this renewable form of energy.
The number of solar panel owners is only increasing, too, with solar energy production increasing by 81% since 2010, according to the Central Statistics Office.
Next steps
With the SEAI grant cutting your initial costs by thousands of euros, and the CEG set to increase your savings even further, there’s never been a better time to get solar panels.
You can save money and the planet, which is exactly what you want from a renewable energy source.
If you’d like to see how much it would cost you to start cutting your energy bills and making money from selling your extra solar power, just use our free tool.
Enter a few quick details, and our trusted experts will be in touch with free quotes for you to compare.
