Generates electricity during daylight
Your home uses the electricity as it is generated. Surplus electricity can be exported to the grid or stored for later if a battery is included.
Solar PV for Irish homes
Solar panels in Ireland
Solar panels can reduce how much electricity a home imports from the grid. Costs, grant eligibility and suitability vary by property, so understand the options before comparing suitable installers.
Upgrade My Home reviews your solar enquiry before sharing it with a small number of participating installers that may suit your location and requirements.
Quick overview
What homeowners should know first
Solar photovoltaic panels generate electricity from daylight. An inverter converts it into electricity your home can use. What matters is how well the proposed system fits your roof, electricity use and budget.
Homes with a practical place for panels
Roof space, shading, roof condition, orientation and household electricity use all affect whether solar is a sensible option.
Know what you are comparing
Have recent electricity bills ready and ask for written proposals covering system output, equipment, warranties, paperwork and the full installed price.
Solar panel costs
What affects the installed price?
There is no single reliable nationwide price for every home. Quotes vary because the equipment and installation work must suit the property.
Compare the complete proposal, not only the headline total. A lower quote may include a different system size, product specification, warranty or level of electrical work.
Read the solar panel costs guide →Main cost factors
- System size and the number and type of panels
- Inverter specification
- Whether a battery or hot-water diverter is included
- Roof type, condition, height and access
- Scaffolding, electrical work and consumer-unit changes
- Installer pricing, warranties and after-sales support
- Property-specific design or installation complexity
Not sure where to start?
Use our homeowner guides to understand the options before requesting quotes.
Solar grants
The SEAI Solar PV grant
For applications made under the 2026 domestic scheme, SEAI lists a maximum Solar PV grant of €1,800. The amount is calculated from the system's kWp capacity and is subject to the scheme rules in force when you apply.
Current 2026 grant calculation
€700 per kWp for the first 2kWp, then €200 for each additional kWp up to 4kWp, capped at €1,800.
Grant values and rules can change. Confirm the current position directly with SEAI before signing a contract or starting work.
Important eligibility and process points
- The applicant can be a homeowner, private landlord, owner management company or approved housing body.
- The home needs an MPRN and must have been built and occupied before 2021.
- The MPRN must not have received previous Solar PV grant funding.
- You must apply and receive the SEAI Letter of Offer before work begins.
- Grant work must use the company named in the offer and meet SEAI scheme requirements.
- A post-works BER by a registered BER assessor is required before the grant can be drawn down.
- The required completion documents must be submitted to SEAI within the offer period.
Upgrade My Home does not administer, approve or guarantee SEAI grants. SEAI also states that registration does not mean it approves, guarantees or warranties a company or its work.
Value and suitability
Are solar panels worth it?
There is no universal answer. The result depends on what the system costs, how much electricity it produces and how much of that electricity your household can use or export.
Your electricity use
Annual consumption matters, but timing matters too. Using more electricity during daylight can increase the proportion of solar generation used directly in the home.
The proposed system
Orientation, shading, system size, equipment, predicted annual output and battery choice can materially change the outcome.
Cost and ownership period
Consider the net upfront cost, electricity prices, export payments, maintenance, warranties and how long you expect to own the property.
Ask each installer to explain the assumptions behind its output and savings estimate. Export rates are set by electricity suppliers and can change, so they should not be treated as guaranteed for the life of the system.
Read the solar panels worth-it guide →System sizing
What size solar system might you need?
There is no single standard number of panels for every home. A sensible system size depends on roof space, orientation and shading, household electricity use, when that electricity is used and the level of generation the homeowner wants.
A proposal should explain the recommended panel count, system capacity and estimated annual generation, including the assumptions behind those figures.
Understand solar panel system sizing →Solar batteries
Do you need a battery?
A battery stores electricity that is not used when the panels generate it, so it can be used later. It may increase the share of solar electricity used in the home, but it also adds cost and loses some energy during charging and discharging.
A battery can be more relevant where evening demand is high, daytime use is low or the household wants to use time-of-use tariffs in a particular way. It is not automatically the best choice for every home.
Compare solar with and without a battery →Compare battery recommendations
- Usable capacity, not only the headline capacity
- Expected charge and discharge pattern
- Compatibility with the inverter and proposed panels
- Power output and backup capability, if offered
- Product and performance warranties
- Installation location and safety requirements
- Added cost compared with expected household use
Home suitability
Is my home suitable for solar panels?
A proper survey and system design are needed before deciding. These are the main practical checks to discuss with an installer.
✓Roof space and orientation: enough usable area for a sensible layout, with the direction and pitch reflected in the output estimate.
✓Shading: nearby trees, chimneys and buildings can reduce generation at different times of day.
✓Roof condition: consider repairs or replacement before installing panels that may remain in place for years.
✓Electricity use: bills and daytime usage help determine a suitable system rather than simply filling the roof.
✓Ownership and permissions: landlords, managed developments and shared roofs may involve additional consent.
✓Planning: most rooftop installations on houses are exempt, subject to conditions. Protected structures, architectural conservation areas and non-standard installations need particular care.
If the property is protected, in an Architectural Conservation Area, or the proposal may fall outside the exemption conditions, check with the local planning authority before proceeding.
Read the government planning overview →Installation process
How a solar installation works
The exact sequence depends on the system and whether you are applying for a grant. For a grant-supported home project, the main stages are:
1
Assess the home and electricity use
Review bills, roof condition, shading, orientation, available space and any likely electrical work.
2
Compare systems and installers
Get written proposals and compare their design assumptions, equipment, warranties, paperwork and full price.
3
Choose the company and secure grant approval
If using the SEAI grant, choose an SEAI-registered Solar PV company, apply and wait for the Letter of Offer before work starts.
4
Complete the grid notification
The company or installer submits the relevant connection application to ESB Networks before installation. Domestic microgeneration commonly uses the NC6 route when it is within the applicable limits.
5
Install and commission the system
The panels, mounting system, inverter and any battery are installed, tested and connected by the appropriate registered contractors.
6
Collect the documents and complete the BER
For the grant, this includes the Declaration of Works, electrical certificates, NC6 documentation, invoice, photographs and a published post-works BER.
7
Finish the grant and export arrangements
SEAI reviews the completion evidence before payment. Once ESB Networks has processed the connection details, eligible exported electricity is handled through the homeowner's electricity supplier.
Comparing installers
How to compare solar quotes
A useful quote should make it possible to understand what is being installed, what the system is expected to produce and who is responsible for each part of the process.
System and performance
- Proposed system size and panel layout
- Estimated annual output and the assumptions used
- Panel, inverter and battery brands and model numbers
- Why a battery is or is not being recommended
- Monitoring equipment and expected maintenance
Commercial terms and support
- Product, performance and workmanship warranties
- Installation timeframe and what could change it
- Deposit, staged payments and final payment terms
- Responsibility for grant documents, BER and NC6
- After-sales contact and fault support
Upgrade My Home is designed to help homeowners organise this comparison and decide which suitable businesses, if any, they want to hear from.
Compare Solar QuotesHomeowner-controlled comparison
How Upgrade My Home works
Tell us about your project
Submit the practical details needed to understand your home and the work you are considering.
Upgrade My Home reviews it
We review the project and may identify suitable participating installers for the location and type of work.
Relevant introductions are made
Where suitable options are available, we may share your enquiry and contact details with a small number of selected participating installers so they can contact you about it.
Solar guides
Research the details before requesting quotes
Use these guides to understand costs, grants, system sizing, batteries and installer quotes before deciding what suits your home.
Solar panel costs in Ireland
See what shapes installed solar PV prices, how SEAI’s median data should be read, and what a complete quote should include.
Read the cost guide →Solar panel grants in Ireland
Check the current SEAI grant amount, eligibility rules and the steps that must be completed in the right order.
Read the grant guide →Are solar panels worth it in Ireland?
Assess roof suitability, electricity use, likely self-consumption, export payments and how long you expect to stay.
Read the decision guide →How many solar panels does an Irish home need?
Size a system around electricity use, usable roof area, shading and annual generation rather than panel count alone.
Read the sizing guide →Solar panels with or without a battery
Understand what a battery changes, when it may suit a household, and which costs and warranty details to compare.
Compare the options →How to compare solar installers and quotes
Compare system design, products, warranties, grant responsibilities and written scope before choosing an installer.
Read the quote guide →Solar panel FAQs
Common questions from Irish homeowners
How much is the Solar PV grant?
SEAI lists a maximum domestic Solar PV grant of €1,800 for 2026. It is calculated at €700 per kWp for the first 2kWp and €200 per additional kWp up to 4kWp. Confirm the rate and rules with SEAI before starting work.
Do I need planning permission for solar panels?
Most houses can install rooftop solar panels without planning permission, subject to exemption conditions. Protected structures, homes in Architectural Conservation Areas and proposals outside the standard conditions should be checked with the local planning authority.
Do I need a solar battery?
No. A battery can store surplus generation for later use, but it adds cost and is not automatically suitable for every household. Compare the battery's usable capacity, warranty and expected use against a system without one.
How many solar panels do I need?
The right number depends on electricity use, usable roof area, shading, panel rating, inverter design and budget. Compare proposed annual generation and layout rather than judging a system only by panel count.
Do solar panels work in Irish weather?
Yes. Solar PV generates electricity from daylight and still works on overcast days, although output is lower than in direct sunlight and varies through the year.
How long does solar installation take?
The physical installation and the full project timeline vary. Roof access, electrical work, equipment availability, weather, grant approval and the grid-notification process can all affect the schedule. Ask for a written programme with the quote.
What is an NC6 form?
NC6 is the ESB Networks notification route used for microgeneration within its applicable limits. It provides the equipment and connection information needed before installation. Under the SEAI grant process, the Solar PV company is responsible for submitting it.
Do I need a BER after installation?
A post-works BER is required to draw down the SEAI Solar PV grant. It must be completed by a registered BER assessor and published on the National BER Register.
Official information
Sources and further reading
Grant schemes, planning rules and grid processes can change. Use these official sources to confirm the current requirements for your project.
SEAI Solar Electricity GrantSEAI Electricity from SolarESB Networks Micro-generationGovernment of Ireland Micro-generationCRU Microgeneration
Information checked against official sources on 22 August 2026.
Solar quote comparison
Compare Solar QuotesThinking about solar? Compare your options first.
Tell us about your home. We review your enquiry and may introduce you to a small number of suitable participating installers.