Solar electricity grant
Install Solar PV (photovoltaic panels) in your home with grant support from SEAI. Reduce your energy costs by generating your own renewable electricity.
About the grant
The Solar PV Scheme is funded by the Department of Climate, Energy and Environment through SEAI. Solar PV panels capture the light from the sun and convert it into the electricity that is used in your home to power your TV, kettle, toaster, phone charger, radio, oven, and more. The maximum grant value is €1,800.
Eligibility
- Available to all homeowners, including landlords
- Eligible for homes built and occupied on or before 31st December 2020
- Only open to homes that have had no previous funding for Solar PV at this MPRN
- You must ensure grant approval is in place before installing your panels.
You cannot apply for this grant if have either purchased material for your solar PV system or started your solar PV installation.
Once you have received grant approval, you have 8 months to complete the works. A post works BER must be completed before you receive grant payment.
Grant value for solar electricity
*the grant is paid on a pro rate basis e.g. for a 2.5kWp system the grant value would be €1500
| Grant name | Value | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Solar PV grant | €700 per kWp up to 2kWp | €1400 for 2kWp solar panels |
€200 for every additional kWp up to 4kWp Total Solar PV grant capped at €1800 | €1600 for 3kWp solar panels €1800 for 4kWp solar panels |
Before you apply
Use our calculator below to see if your home is suitable for Solar PV and estimate your payback. Talk to friends and neighbours who have already installed Solar PV about the benefits and potential savings. They may be able to recommend an installer. Shop around for a good price.
- Read the Solar PV Scheme Application Guide
- Speak with a registered Company
- Read the Solar PV Terms and Conditions
How to apply
- We advise you to shop around and get 4 different quotes from different registered companies.
- Research the Company you have selected and look for references from them.
- Check that the Company is on the SEAI register.
- Make sure you have a contract in place.
- SEAI does not approve, guarantee, or warranty a company or their works.
- Apply for your grant and wait for your grant offer before you start the works. Do not start works until you receive the grant offer.
- Check the company carrying out your installation is the company referenced in your Letter of Offer. If you need to change the company, you will need to contact the helpdesk to cancel your existing application and reapply with the correct company. This can only be done if the works have not started.
- For OMC (Owner Management Company) properties, applications can only be created by the OMC unit or the associated PMA (Property Management Agency), with written authorisation from the OMC. You will need to contact our SPV team on [email protected] or 018082004 before creating an application to retrieve the forms required to apply.
- See below top tips for a smooth grant application process.
- Before your grant can be processed you must get a post works BER carried out
- Arrange this once you receive your install date from your SPV company
- You must engage a BER assessor to do this https://ndber.seai.ie/PASS/Assessors/Search.asp
(Many homeowners forget this step and end up waiting longer for their grant payment. Try to get your BER arranged immediately after your solar PV has been installed. This will speed up your grant payment).
- Once you have engaged a BER assessor, advise them of all upgrade works carried out on your home. The more information you can provide at the early stages ahead of the survey, the better.
- Letter of Engagement - BER assessors should provide a contract or letter of engagement for you to sign prior to commencement of the BER assessment work. This should contain a description of the proposed services, a quotation of the proposed costs (including VAT and expenses) and the disclosure of all relevant business interests. This is a mandatory part of the BER assessor process and provides clarity of expectations on both sides - see an example.
- Homeowner Checklist - Before a BER assessor carries out an assessment on your home, it's a good idea to review this handy checklist with tips to ensure that you they are prepared for your assessor. It can save time and ensures that you know what to expect and are prepared with the relevant documentation to get the best rating possible
- See lots more information on getting a BER assessment. We recommend you familiarise yourself with this information to ensure that you are prepared and informed for this part of the process.
| Steps | Homeowner | Contractor / Installer | Estimated time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preparation and Research | Check your home is eligible. Find a Solar PV Installer. | Provide a quote for the installation of the Solar PV system. | |
| Application submission | Submit your application and wait for grant approval. | ||
| Approval and installation | Receive your 'letter of offer' confirming grant amount. Installation can now start. | The installer applies to ESB Networks and installs the Solar PV. | 3 months |
| Post installation | BER Assessment. Arrange a post works BER. This must be submitted to SEAI. | The Solar PV company submits evidence of works to SEAI. | |
| SEAI grant payment | SEAI pays grant to the homeowner. | 2 weeks |
Top tips
These tips will help you create a successful Solar PV grant application and outline the actions you need to take to ensure a smooth grant process from start to finish.
- The grant, once approved, is only payable in respect of the measure, size of installation and grant amount referenced in the Grant Offer. Should you wish to increase the size of your array, you will need to contact the Solar PV Team in advance of works commencing, including up to the day of the install, but before works start.
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The Grant offer once accepted is only payable in respect of the measure(s) contained in the application and referenced in the grant offer. Any scope changes in terms of the size, type of installation and/or selected company, must receive prior approval from SEAI. Scope changes not notified and approved by SEAI will not be eligible for payment.
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Applicants are eligible for the grant amounts that are in effect at the time of application i.e. if you cancel an application and then recreate a new application, and the grant amounts have changed in the meantime, you will be eligible for the grant amount in effect at the time of creating the new application and not those that were in effect at the time of the original application..
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A change of company will require cancellation of your application and the creation of a new one, nominating the new company. Where the grant amounts have changed in the meantime, you will be eligible for the grant amount in effect at the time of creating the new application
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Get your BER arranged immediately after your solar PV has been installed. This will speed up your grant payment. Ensure BER assessor publishes it as soon as completed.
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Check the company carrying out the installation is the company referenced in your approval letter/email. If you need to change the company, you will need to contact the helpdesk to cancel your existing application and reapply with the correct company. This can only be done if the works have not started.
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Ensure your company uploads ALL the required documentation after installation, ideally within 1-3 days.
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Check the bank account details that are entered in the portal are correct. Bank details must be your account (the applicant) or the Solar PV company's account. You can log into your portal to check these details.
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Retain all invoices, receipts and documents of completion of works for presentation to SEAI personnel should your home be chosen for QA inspection at some date in the future. These may also be required for your BER assessment.
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Once inspections reworks are complete, payment will be processed 2 weeks after.
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For any technical advice or queries, please contact our technical team, you can contact them on 012776977 or [email protected]
- SPV Company Declaration of Insurance
- SPV Installer Declaration of Insurance
- SPV Code of Practice
- Solar PV Grant Declaration of Works Form
- Solar PV Grant Inspection and Testing Report
- Solar PV Grant Completion Checklist
- Solar PV QADP - Quality Assurance and Development Programme for Solar PV Registered Companies and Registered Installers
- Shared Homeowner Template
Contact us
Call: 01808 2004
Email: [email protected]