Question 1

How much do solar panels cost in Ireland in 2026?

Accepted Answer

A standard 4 kWp system, the size most Irish homes get, costs €8,200 installed. After the full €1,800 SEAI grant that is €6,400 out of pocket. Larger systems price better per kWp: a 10 kWp roof is about €12,400 before the grant. The exact cost depends on the system size, roof complexity, and whether you want battery storage. We provide itemised quotes so you can see exactly where your money goes - no hidden costs, no surprises. Use our AI Bill Analyser for a personalised quote

Question 2

How much could I save with solar panels?

Accepted Answer

A typical 3-bed semi-detached home with a 4 kWp system can save €800 to €1,400 per year on electricity bills, depending on your usage patterns and whether you have a battery. With electricity prices rising around 3% annually, your savings grow over time. Over 25 years, total savings typically range from €25,000 to €50,000. The best way to get an accurate figure is to use our AI Bill Analyser - it reads your actual bill and calculates your personalised savings. Try it now

Question 3

How long is the payback period?

Accepted Answer

Most homeowners see a full payback within 5 to 7 years after the SEAI grant. A 4 kWp system is €8,200 installed, so €6,400 after the grant. At the typical €1,100/yr saved, that pays for itself in about 6 years. After that, every kilowatt-hour generated is essentially free electricity for the remaining years of the panel warranty. With rising electricity prices, many customers see faster payback than that.

Question 4

What is the SEAI grant and am I eligible?

Accepted Answer

The SEAI offers a Solar PV grant of €1,800 towards the cost of installing solar panels on your home. This grant is available in the Republic of Ireland (26 counties) only - Northern Ireland has separate support schemes. To be eligible, you must be the owner-occupier of a home built and occupied before 2021 with its own MPRN, and the property must not have had solar funding before. There is no minimum BER to qualify: a BER assessment is done after the work is finished, before the grant is paid, and we arrange it. SEAI pays the grant into the bank account nominated on the Request for Payment form once the work is complete and the post-works BER is published, normally about 4 to 6 weeks later. By default that account is yours. We verify your eligibility during the free survey and handle the entire application on your behalf. Check if you qualify

Question 5

How does the SEAI grant application work?

Accepted Answer

It's straightforward - and we do all the paperwork for you. After your free survey, we submit the grant application to SEAI on your behalf. Once approved (usually within a few weeks), we proceed with the installation. After the system is commissioned and the post-works BER is published, SEAI pays the €1,800 into the bank account nominated on the Request for Payment form, normally about 4 to 6 weeks later. By default that is your own account. We will tell you at quote stage whether we can take the grant directly instead and quote you the net price.

Question 6

How long does installation take?

Accepted Answer

The physical installation is completed in a single day for a standard residential system. The scaffolding goes up first thing in the morning, our RECI-registered team mounts and wires the panels during the day, and the system is fully commissioned before we leave. We also handle the ESB Networks grid connection notification. The only additional time is for the SEAI grant approval and post-install BER assessment, but we manage all of that for you.

Question 7

Do I need planning permission?

Accepted Answer

In the vast majority of cases, no. Solar panels are considered exempted development in Ireland under certain conditions: the panels must not extend more than 50cm from the roof surface, and the total area must not exceed 12 square metres or 50% of the roof area, whichever is less. Exceptions apply for protected structures and certain designated areas. We check all planning requirements during the free survey.

Question 8

Will solar panels work on my roof?

Accepted Answer

Solar panels work on most Irish roof types - tiled, slate, and metal. South-facing roofs with a pitch of 30-40 degrees are optimal, but east/west-facing roofs still produce excellent results (typically 80-85% of a south-facing output). During the free survey, we assess your roof orientation, pitch, shading from trees or buildings, and structural suitability to give you an honest recommendation.

Question 9

How much electricity will I generate?

Accepted Answer

In Ireland, a well-positioned system generates roughly 850 to 950 kWh per kilowatt-peak (kWp) per year. A typical 4 kWp system would produce around 3,400 to 3,800 kWh annually. Actual output depends on your roof orientation, pitch, and shading. Modern panels are remarkably efficient - even on overcast Irish days they generate meaningful power. A properly sized system can cover 60-70% of a typical household's annual electricity needs.

Question 10

What about cloudy days and winter?

Accepted Answer

Solar panels still generate electricity on cloudy days - typically 10-25% of their rated output compared to a sunny day. While winter production is lower (roughly 30-40% of summer output), the system is sized to maximise annual generation. Any shortfall is automatically covered by the grid, and you only pay for what you use. Most homeowners find that their summer surplus offsets the winter deficit, and with a battery you can store excess summer generation for winter evenings.

Question 11

Do you offer battery storage?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A battery stores excess electricity generated during the day for use in the evening or overnight, increasing your self-consumption to roughly 70-85%. A 5 kWh battery adds about €3,200 to a system. It pays back more slowly than the panels do, which is exactly why we size it on the survey against your real day and night usage rather than guessing here. Worth considering if you are out during the day, have an EV, or want to maximise your energy independence.

Question 12

What happens to electricity I don't use?

Accepted Answer

Any excess electricity your panels generate that you don't use is automatically exported to the grid. Under the ESB microgeneration support scheme, your electricity supplier pays you €0.20/kWh for exported energy. For a typical 4 kWp system, this can add €150-€300 per year to your savings. The export payment appears as a credit on your electricity bill - it's all handled automatically through your smart meter. Learn about the Clean Export Guarantee

Factor	Value	Source
Generation rate	950 kWh per kWp	PVGIS, south-facing Irish roof at 30 degrees after standard system losses
Panel wattage	440W	Modern premium residential panels (2024/2025 stock)
Max panels	22 panels (9.7 kWp)	Standard domestic ESB connection limit
Unit rate	35c/kWh incl. VAT	The bottom of the 2026 Irish market band, so savings are not overstated
Standing charge	€250/year	Irish standing charges 2026. Solar never removes this
SEAI grant	€1,800	Current SEAI Solar PV grant for owner-occupiers
Export rate	€0.20/kWh	Clean Export Guarantee (CEG): the CRU minimum every supplier must pay. Some pay more
CO₂ factor	0.29 kg/kWh	EirGrid marginal emission factor for Ireland
Self-consumption	30-50%	What an Irish home uses directly with no battery. A battery lifts it to roughly 70-85%
Minimum system	4 kWp	Our domestic floor, and the size the SEAI grant reaches its full €1,800

Factor	Value	Source
Generation rate	950 kWh per kWp	PVGIS, south-facing Irish roof at 30 degrees after standard system losses
Panel wattage	440W	Modern premium residential panels (2024/2025 stock)
Max panels	22 panels (9.7 kWp)	Standard domestic ESB connection limit
Unit rate	35c/kWh incl. VAT	The bottom of the 2026 Irish market band, so savings are not overstated
Standing charge	€250/year	Irish standing charges 2026. Solar never removes this
SEAI grant	€1,800	Current SEAI Solar PV grant for owner-occupiers
Export rate	€0.20/kWh	Clean Export Guarantee (CEG): the CRU minimum every supplier must pay. Some pay more
CO₂ factor	0.29 kg/kWh	EirGrid marginal emission factor for Ireland
Self-consumption	30-50%	What an Irish home uses directly with no battery. A battery lifts it to roughly 70-85%
Minimum system	4 kWp	Our domestic floor, and the size the SEAI grant reaches its full €1,800

Solar Panel Savings Calculator
for Irish Homes

Our Calculator Uses Real Irish Data

Upload or Type Your Bill

Pick Your Home Type

See Your Savings

Book the Survey

Our Data Sources

Common
questions.

Ready to See Your Exact Savings?

Hey there! 👋

Solar Panel Savings Calculator
for Irish Homes

Bill Analyser

How Much Could You Save?

Your Monthly Electricity Bill

Your Home Type

Cost & Payback

Where Your Savings Come From

Estimated Monthly Generation

Annual Bill Breakdown

Our Calculator Uses Real Irish Data

Upload or Type Your Bill

Pick Your Home Type

See Your Savings

Book the Survey

Our Data Sources

Common
questions.

Ready to See Your Exact Savings?

Hey there! 👋

Bill Analyser

How Much Could You Save?

Your Monthly Electricity Bill

Your Home Type

Cost & Payback

Where Your Savings Come From

Estimated Monthly Generation

Annual Bill Breakdown

Solar Panel Savings Calculator for Irish Homes

Our Calculator Uses Real Irish Data

Upload or Type Your Bill

Pick Your Home Type

See Your Savings

Book the Survey

Our Data Sources

Common questions.

Ready to See Your Exact Savings?

Solar Panel Savings Calculator for Irish Homes

Bill Analyser

How Much Could You Save?

Your Monthly Electricity Bill

Your Home Type

Cost & Payback

Where Your Savings Come From

Estimated Monthly Generation

Annual Bill Breakdown

Our Calculator Uses Real Irish Data

Upload or Type Your Bill

Pick Your Home Type

See Your Savings

Book the Survey

Our Data Sources

Common questions.

Ready to See Your Exact Savings?

Bill Analyser

How Much Could You Save?

Your Monthly Electricity Bill

Your Home Type

Cost & Payback

Where Your Savings Come From

Estimated Monthly Generation

Annual Bill Breakdown

Solar Panel Savings Calculator
for Irish Homes

Common
questions.

Solar Panel Savings Calculator
for Irish Homes

Common
questions.