Solar grant questions
Straight answers on the SEAI solar grant: what you get, who qualifies and how long it takes.
Free, no obligation. One local SEAI-registered installer prices it, not five.
- €1,400SEAI grant for 2kWp of panels
- €2,400most you can get, with a battery
- 0% VATon solar panels for homes
The grant
How much is the SEAI solar grant?
SEAI pays €700 per kWp for the first 2kWp of solar panels, so €1,400 for 2kWp, about 6 or 7 panels, and €200 for each extra kWp up to 4kWp, so €1,800 at 4kWp, the cap for panels. A battery of 5kWh or more adds a flat €600.
What's the most I can get?
€2,400: €1,800 for 4kWp or more of panels, plus €600 for a battery of 5kWh or more.
What will panels cost after the grant?
SEAI puts the typical cost at €1,700 to €2,500 per kWp. So 2kWp is about €3,400 to €5,000 before the grant, and €2,000 to €3,600 after it; 4kWp with a battery is about €5,000 to €8,200 for the panels after the €1,800 panel grant, plus the battery less its €600. These are SEAI's typical rates times the size, not quotes.
Is VAT charged on panels?
Supplying and fitting solar panels to a private home has had a zero rate of VAT since 1 May 2023. Ask the installer how VAT applies to a battery on your quote.
Getting it
Who can get it?
Owners of homes built and occupied before 2025, with an MPRN. SEAI can't have supported solar PV at that address before, a BER assessor rates the home after the panels go in, and you must use an SEAI-registered solar company and have the grant offer before work starts.
Do I need a BER?
After the panels are fitted, an SEAI-registered BER assessor does a post-works BER. It's needed to claim the grant, and there's no set rating to reach. A battery-only grant, where the home has no panels, doesn't need one.
Can work start before the offer?
No. Works must not start before you get SEAI's grant offer. Sign with an installer, apply, wait for the offer, then the panels go up. Start first and you lose the grant.
How long does it take?
Allow two to three months from signing. The grant offer comes first and is valid for 8 months. The installer's application to ESB Networks takes at least 4 weeks (20 working days). SEAI asks you to allow up to 6 weeks for payment after the paperwork, longer if it inspects.
Is there much mess or disruption?
Very little. The panels go on from the outside, the inverter goes in the attic, a garage or a utility room, and the power is off for a short while when it's wired into the fuse board.
Technical & eligibility questions
How much is the SEAI solar panels grant for a typical 4kWp system?
A 4kWp solar PV system receives the maximum €1,800 panel grant (€700 per kWp for the first 2kWp plus €200 per kWp for the next 2kWp). Adding a 5kWh+ battery adds €600, giving €2,400 in total.
Can I get the €600 battery grant if I already have solar panels?
Yes, provided the home has not previously received an SEAI battery grant and the new battery is at least 5kWh and installed by an SEAI-registered solar PV company.
Do I need planning permission for rooftop solar panels in Ireland?
Most Irish houses can install rooftop solar panels without planning permission under revised exempted development rules, provided panels stay within roof-edge clearances and the building is not a protected structure.
Why do we have to wait 4 weeks for ESB Networks before installation?
Your installer must submit an NC6 microgeneration form to ESB Networks before energising the system, and ESB Networks requires at least 20 working days (4 weeks) to process grid connection checks.
Does my house need to reach a BER C rating to get the solar grant?
No. While a post-works BER assessment is required after installation to claim the grant, SEAI no longer requires the dwelling to reach a specific minimum BER rating for the standalone solar PV grant.
Is 0% VAT applied on top of the SEAI solar grant?
Yes. Your SEAI-registered installer quotes the supply and installation of your home solar PV system at 0% VAT, and the SEAI grant is deducted or paid out in addition to that zero-VAT price.
This site
Is this SEAI?
No. solarpanelsgrant.ie is not SEAI or a government body and does not award grants. We pass your request to one SEAI-registered solar installer who covers your area. You apply to SEAI yourself, or the installer helps you; SEAI decides and pays the grant.
Who will ring me?
One SEAI-registered solar installer who covers your area. One installer, not a list. Nothing is booked until you say yes.
Your solar grant in 3 taps
Tap your home, the size of system and whether you want a battery. Your SEAI grant and a cost after the grant show as you go. Then, if you want a price, leave your number and one SEAI-registered solar installer who covers your area rings you.
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