Solar Installation in Ireland: Step by Step (2026)

A typical Irish solar installation takes 1-2 days on the roof, and about 4-8 weeks end to end: site survey, SEAI grant approval, installation, the free NC6 notification to ESB Networks, a post-works BER assessment, then Clean Export Guarantee payments. Here is exactly what happens at each step, from an installer who does this every week.

Solar Ireland is an SEAI-registered installer working across all 32 counties, and the questions we get asked most have nothing to do with panels. They are about process: who fills in what, when the money moves, and how long the whole thing takes. This guide walks the six steps in the order they actually happen.

How long does solar installation take in Ireland?

The physical installation takes 1-2 days for a typical domestic system. The full journey, from first enquiry to grant money in your bank account, usually runs 4-8 weeks, and most of that is scheduling and paperwork rather than work on your roof. Demand matters too: 2025 was a record year for SEAI grant-aided home solar installations (SEAI), so lead times stretch in the busiest months. If you are flexible on timing, when you book makes a difference.

Step 1: What happens at the site survey?

Everything starts with your electricity bill and your roof. Send us a recent bill and our analysis reads your day/night usage split, which tells us how much of your electricity solar can realistically replace. Then a surveyor comes to the house. This is a physical visit, not a desktop exercise: sizing a system without seeing the actual roof and fuse board is guesswork.

• Roof dimensions, pitch, orientation and the fixing type your tiles or slates need
• Attic and roof structure, to confirm it will carry the array
• Your fuse board, earthing and meter location, plus the MPRN (the 11-digit meter point number on your bill)
• Shading from chimneys, trees or neighbouring buildings across the day
• Cable routes, inverter location and space for a battery if you want one

Planning permission is not a step for most homes. Since October 2022 (S.I. 493 of 2022), rooftop solar on houses is exempted development with no roof area limit, with exceptions near aerodromes and for protected structures. The detail is in our planning rules guide.

Step 2: How do you apply for the SEAI grant?

You apply online at seai.ie before any work starts, and the grant offer normally issues immediately. The Solar PV grant is worth up to €1,800. You need a valid MPRN, and the home must have been built and occupied before 2021 with no previous solar grant at that MPRN. Owner-occupiers and private landlords are both eligible. The offer is valid for 8 months, and you have 30 days to accept it. Eligibility, tiers and paperwork are covered in our complete SEAI grant guide.

Step 3: What happens on installation day?

1. 1Scaffolding goes up, usually the day before or first thing that morning
2. 2Roof anchors and mounting rails are fixed to the rafters, flashed and sealed
3. 3Panels are lifted, clamped and wired into strings
4. 4The inverter, and the battery if you chose one, is mounted in the attic, garage or hot press area
5. 5A RECI (Safe Electric) registered electrician completes the AC wiring to the I.S. 10101 wiring standard, with a brief power-off to make the final connection at the fuse board
6. 6The system is commissioned, tested and switched on, and we walk you through the monitoring app before we leave

For most houses that is one full day; two where the roof is complex, the array is split across faces, or a battery is going in at the same time. You do not need to be home for the roof work, but plan to be there at the start for a walkthrough and at the end for the handover. Expect the power to be off for a short period while the electrician makes the final connection.

Step 4: Who submits the NC6 form to ESB Networks?

Your installer does, and it is free. The NC6 is ESB Networks' microgeneration notification: it tells the network operator that a generator, your solar system, is now connected at your MPRN. Your installer completes and submits it as part of the job. There is no fee and nothing for you to fill in.

Step 5: What is the post-install BER assessment for?

A post-works BER is a required step for the SEAI grant. Once your installation is finished, your installer uploads the completion documentation to SEAI, and you arrange a BER assessment of the house. The grant can only be processed after all documents are in and the new BER is published by the assessor. SEAI then pays the grant by electronic transfer into the bank account you nominated on your application, usually within about 4-6 weeks (seai.ie). By default the grant is not deducted from your installer's bill; it lands in your account. A registered contractor can instead offer the price net of the grant, in which case you nominate their account on the SEAI Request for Payment form.

Step 6: When do Clean Export Guarantee payments start?

Once your system is live and the NC6 is in, electricity you export earns credit under the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG). Two things need to be true: you need a smart meter, and your supplier needs you registered on their export tariff. Each supplier sets its own rate; in 2026 rates run roughly €0.19-0.24 per kWh, typically around €0.20. The credit appears on your normal electricity bills, so exactly when it starts depends on your supplier's billing cycle. A typical 4kWp home earns €200-400 a year from export, and the first €400 a year of export income is tax-exempt (citizensinformation.ie). No smart meter yet? Here is how the smart meter requirement works.

How long from quote to switch-on in total?

Add it up and a smooth job runs about 4-8 weeks from survey to grant money landing. The part that matters most happens on day one of installation: from the moment the system is commissioned, every daytime kWh is cutting your bill, typically €800-1,400 a year for an average home. The rest of the timeline is paperwork moving around you, not you waiting to benefit.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need scaffolding, and who arranges it?

Yes, for almost every roof-mounted job. It is a safety requirement for working at height, and the installer arranges it and includes it in the quote. It usually goes up the day before installation and comes down within a few days after.

What happens if it rains on installation day?

We install through normal Irish weather; rain rarely stops a job. High winds are the real constraint, because lifting panels onto a roof in a storm is unsafe, so a status orange or red wind warning can push the roof work back a day or two. Indoor electrical and inverter work goes ahead regardless.

Do I need a smart meter before the panels go in?

No. The system generates and cuts your bill from the day it is commissioned, meter or no meter. A smart meter is only needed for the Clean Export Guarantee payment, so the export side of your savings starts once it is fitted and your supplier registers you.

Do I have to be home on the day?

Be there at the start for a quick walkthrough and at the end for commissioning and handover, when we set up your monitoring app and show you what normal generation looks like. In between, the crew works on the roof and at the fuse board and does not need you standing by.