Ireland Solar PV Incentives and Grants
Overview
Photovoltaic solar panels are expected to play a significant role in Ireland’s transition to a sustainable future as the country aims for net zero emissions by 2050. There are a number of financing options and incentives available for homeowners in Ireland which decrease the initial installation costs associated with PV panels, including grants provided by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and a government-backed low-interest energy upgrade loan scheme.
SEAI History
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (Irish: Údarás Fuinnimh Inmharthana na hÉireann) was created by the Irish Government in 2002 as a statutory body to promote renewable energy and to make green energy options more affordable for households, businesses and farms.[1] The SEAI is supported by the European Union’s Structural Funds Programme, co-funded by the Irish Government and the EU.[2] As well as offering a range of initiatives aimed at decreasing costs associated with renewable energy upgrades, the authority is also engaged in research into areas including electric vehicles and bioenergy.
Incentives
In an attempt to promote the adoption of solar PV panels across Irish society, the government has introduced measures which reduce the overall installation cost of a solar PV panel installation. Grants for domestic applicants, businesses and farms are available through the SEAI, while farms and businesses can also apply for other schemes. As well as grants, VAT was removed from solar installations and components in May 2023, and planning permission is no longer required for the vast majority of solar panel installations.[3] [4]
Domestic Solar PV Grants in Ireland
The SEAI provides grants of up to €2,100 for the installation of solar PV panels for domestic applicants in 2024, which is one of two main streams of grant funding available along with the non-domestic grant for businesses.[5] The domestic SEAI grant increases according to the peak power output of the solar panel system that is installed, with €800 for each kWp up to 2kWp. For each additional kWp up to 4kWp, €250 is awarded, and the grant is capped at €2,100 in 2024, a reduction of €300 on the maximum grant value available in 2023.
Business Grants
For businesses installing solar PV panels, the SEAI’s non-domestic grant awards €900 for each kWp up to 2kWp and then a further €300 each up to a maximum of €2,400.[6] There is also the much less common EXEED grant scheme which allows larger companies to claim up to 30% of the cost of a large scale energy investment, up to a maximum of €3,000,000.
SEAI Grant Eligibility
All homes built and lived in before the end of December 2020 are eligible for the domestic SEAI solar panel grants. Business, agricultural and other sector properties which were built and occupied before 2021 are also eligible for solar panel grants. To qualify for a grant, homeowners or businesses must not have previously received a grant from the SEAI for the same property.[7]
Agriculture Grants
Farms can avail of the Non-domestic Microgen Grant which provides funding for solar PV systems up to 1,000kWp. A solar PV system with an output of a maximum 1,000kWp would receive the maximum grant amount of €162,600.
| Size of Solar System | Grant Amount |
| 3kWp | €2,100 |
| 6kWp | €2,400 |
| 7kWp | €2,700 |
| 20kWp | €6,600 |
| 50kWp | €12,600 |
| 100kWp | €22,600 |
| 500kWp | €87,600 |
| 1,000kWp | €162,600 |
TAMS for Farmers
Designed for farmers, the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Schemes (TAMS 3), provides farmers with grants of up to 60% of the cost of a solar energy project, up to a maximum of €90,000.
Low Interest Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme
Low interest loans are available for homeowners to install solar panels along with other energy efficiency upgrades as part of a deep retrofit. Introduced in 2024, the scheme offers up to €75,000 for energy upgrades under the SEAI’s National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme (One Stop Shop Service) or Community Energy Grant. [8] Upgrades which can carried out with loans from the Home Energy Loan Scheme include solar panels, heat pumps, insulation and windows.
References
- ↑ Members Forum (eceee.org)https://www.eceee.org/members/MembersForum/sustainable-energy-authority-ireland/
- ↑ Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) - Ocean Energy Europe (oceanenergy-europe.eu)https://www.oceanenergy-europe.eu/annual/sustainable-energy-authority-of-ireland-seai/
- ↑ New planning permission exemptions for rooftop solar panels on homes and other buildings (www.gov.ie)https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/9ba0e-new-planning-permission-exemptions-for-rooftop-solar-panels-on-homes-and-other-buildings/
- ↑ gov - Ministers McGrath and Ryan announce a zero rate of VAT for the supply and installation of solar panels for private dwellings from 1 May 2023 (www.gov.ie)https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/977ed-ministers-mcgrath-ryan-announce-a-zero-rate-of-vat-for-the-supply-and-installation-of-solar-panels-for-private-dwellings-from-may-1st-2023/https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/977ed-ministers-mcgrath-ryan-announce-a-zero-rate-of-vat-for-the-supply-and-installation-of-solar-panels-for-private-dwellings-from-may-1st-2023/
- ↑ Solar Panels Ireland - Energy Efficiency Ireland
- ↑ Non-Domestic Microgen Scheme | Business Grants and Supports | SEAI
- ↑ [1] SEAI Home Energy Grants https://www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants/fully-funded-upgrades-for-eligible-homes/
- ↑ Energy Conservation: 30 Apr 2024: Written answers (KildareStreet.com)https://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2024-04-30a.248&s=energy+loan+scheme#g249.q
