Solar PV Grant

Turn your home into a renewable power station! SEAI are now offering a grant for Solar Photovoltaic (Solar PV) panels for homeowners.

About Solar PV

The term ‘solar panel’ is often used interchangeably to describe the panels that generate electricity and those that generate hot water.

• Solar panels that produce hot water are known as solar thermal collectors or solar hot water collectors.
• Solar panels that produce electricity are known as solar photovoltaic (Solar PV) modules. These panels generate DC electricity when exposed to light.
• Solar PV is the rooftop solar you see on homes and businesses. PV or photovoltaic solar panels turn daylight into free electricity and provide you with free energy and free electricity to power your TV, kettle, toaster, phone charger, radio, oven and so on.

A domestic solar PV system consists of a number of solar panels mounted to your roof (or in your garden) and connected into the electrical loads within your building. The solar panels generate DC (direct current – like a battery) electricity, which is then converted in an inverter to AC (alternating current – like the electricity in your domestic socket). Solar PV systems are rated in kilowatts (kW). A 1kW solar PV system would require 3 or 4 solar panels on your roof.

Any excess electricity produced can be stored in a battery, or other storage solution like your hot water immersion tank. It can also be exported from your house into the electrical network on your street.

New grant for Solar PV

SEAI are delighted to offer homeowners a grant of up to €3,800 to support the installation of Solar PV panels and battery energy storage systems.

This will reduce the electricity you currently purchase from your supplier and save you money. It is desirable to maximise the amount of solar electricity you use in your home by sizing the solar PV system to meet your demand, and by using energy storage solutions. Support is available to all owners of dwellings built and occupied before 2011.

The grant is available for all new Solar PV installations from Tuesday 31st July 2018.

Find out how much you can save using Solar PV Panels HERE

Grant Amounts Available

Solar PV	Battery Storage System
€700/kWp	€1,000

* €700 for every kWp up to max 4kWp. Any installation over 2kWp must install a battery.

How to apply

1. Check if you’re eligible for the grant

Complete a short questionnaire to check if you are eligible for the scheme. You will receive an email shortly afterwards stating whether you are eligible or not. The questionnaire is available HERE.

2. Appoint a registered SEAI solar PV installer.

If you are eligible, appoint a registered Solar PV installer. Only an installer who is on SEAI’s Renewable Installers Register for Solar PV can certify the installation. View list of registered Solar PV installers.

3. Install your solar PV panels

Proceed with your installation. Once the installation is complete, your installer will provide you with the required documentation you need to claim your grant payment.

4. Claim your grant payment

Please ensure you have all the documents you need to claim your grant payment. The SEAI online payment system will open in October. However all solar PV systems installed from Tuesday 31st July will be eligible for payment.

Relevant Downloads and Information

• Solar PV Grant Application Guide
• Code of Practice for Installers
• Solar PV Grant Declaration of Works Form
• Solar PV Grant Inspection and Testing Report
• Solar PV Grant Completion Checklist

 

For more information and frequently asked questions about the Solar PV Grant go to the SEAI website HERE