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Solar panel installation for a 3-bed, semi-detached house in Ireland costs on average €6,145. There are grants available for the installation of solar panels based on the output capacity of the panels. This grant is capped at €1,800 and is set to reduce by a further €300 per year until 2029 when it is fully phased out. The benefits of solar panels are numerous, including reducing your annual electricity bill, offering the opportunity to offset energy costs by selling any excess energy produced back into the national grid, and reducing Ireland's overall greenhouse gas emissions.
Solar panels can be an expensive investment, with the average cost being well over €5,000 euros just for a 2-bedroom terraced home.
This is due in part to rising wholesale costs and the high cost of electricity, but there are SEAI grants available to help with the cost of installing solar panels. This can help those interested in making savings on their energy consumption.
Here’s a quick table to show you key facts (or costs) of getting a solar panel for different size houses:
| House Size | Rated Capacity | kWh per Year | Cost After Grant | CO2 Saved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-Bed Terraced | 3.48 kW | 3,029 kWh | €5,901 | 994 kg |
| 3-Bed Semi-Detached | 4.35 kW | 3,782 kWh | €6,145 | 1,000 kg |
| 4-Bed Detached | 5.22 kW | 4,820 kWh | €6,565 | 2,000 kg |
| 6-Bed Detached | 6.96 kW | 6,036 kWh | €7,338 | 2,000 kg |
Source: Purevolt
Last Updated: October 2025
How Much Does a Solar Panel Battery Cost?
A solar battery costs between €1,500 to €4,000. Solar batteries allow you to store the energy produced by your solar panels for later use, but you can also get paid for exporting any excess energy your solar panels generate through the microgeneration scheme.
The grant amount you receive depends on several factors.
However, the most important is the peak output of your new solar panel system.
This means that the peak power (kWp) your solar panel generates will determine the grant amount:
| Kilowatt Peak (kWp) | Grant Amount |
|---|---|
| 1 kWp | €700 |
| 2 kWp | €1,400 |
| 3 kWp | €1,600 |
| 4 kWp or more | €1,800 |
Source: Citizen Information
Last Updated: October 2025
The solar panel grant will cover both the labour and the material for the solar panels to be installed in your property.
For many of the grants, the maximum amount is lower than the average price for PV solar panels (around €4,000) so the grant is intended to foot part of the bill for the over costs.
The grant doesn't cover any solar panel repairs or the individual cost of replacement parts.
While there are DIY solar kits available, we recommended contracting a professional solar panel installation company.
Grant Amount Capped 2025
In 2025, the grant is capped at €1,800. The Government plans to reduce the grant by up to €300 every year, as it expects the cost of solar panel systems to reduce over time. It is intended that the grant will end in 2029.
The Clean Export Guarantee (CEG), often referred to as a "feed-in tariff", is a significant financial incentive that allows you to sell any surplus electricity generated by your solar panels back to the National Grid.
Below, you will find a table outlining the Irish electricity supplier's current microgeneration rates:
| Supplier | Microgeneration Rate | Payment |
|---|---|---|
| Pinergy | 25.0c per kWh | Monthly credit |
| Energia | 18.5c per kWh | Credit as per billing cycle |
| Electric Ireland | 19.5c per kWh | Credit as per billing cycle |
| SSE Airtricity | 19.5c pe kWh | Credit 4 times per year |
| Flogas | 18.5c per kWh | Bi-monthly credit |
| Bord Gais | 18.5c per kWh | Credit 4 times per year |
| Yuno Energy | 15.89c per kWh | Bi-annual credit |
Rates include VAT. Last updated: October 2025.
A major benefit for domestic micro-generators is the tax treatment of the earnings.
The first €400 per year of income received from the CEG is exempt from Income Tax, USC, and PRSI.
This means that for the vast majority of homeowners, your export earnings are entirely tax-free.
The combination of the SEAI grant, 0% VAT on solar equipment, high electricity prices, and the CEG export income has dramatically improved the financial case for solar in 2025.
For an average 4kWp to 5kWp residential solar system, the investment is typically recouped in 5 to 7 years.
| System Size | Estimated Net Cost (Post-€1,800 Grant) | Estimated Payback Period |
|---|---|---|
| 4.4 kWp (10 panels) | €6,000 to €7,000 | 5 to 6 years |
| 5.28 kWp (12 panels) | €6,500 to €8,000 | 5 to 5.5 years |
Once the system is paid off, the electricity generated for the rest of its lifespan is essentially free.
Since most solar panels come with a performance warranty of 25 years, this translates into two decades of net profit and significantly reduced household bills.
Solar panels and electric vehicle (EV) chargers are a powerful, money-saving combination.
Instead of exporting your surplus power for the CEG rate, you can use that free, self-generated electricity to fuel your car.
The SEAI offers a grant of €300 towards the purchase and installation of a new EV home charger unit.
| Cost Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Typical Charger & Install Cost (Before Grant) | €1,000 to €2,000 |
| SEAI Grant | €300 |
| Net Cost to Homeowner | €700 to €1,700 (approx.) |
To maximise your savings, you should install a solar-aware charger (like the MyEnergi Zappi or Ohme Home Pro).
These smart devices feature Eco or Eco+ modes that will automatically divert only your surplus solar power to charge your EV, ensuring you are driving for free when the sun is shining.
Using 1kWh of solar power to charge your car saves you the cost of buying it from the grid (approx. 30c/kWh), which is significantly better than selling it back for the CEG rate (approx. 20c/kWh).
Solar panels in Ireland are growing more and more popular, and they’re quickly becoming one of the most sure fire ways of reducing energy costs and your dependence on the grid.
They can even help you earn some extra income through various microgeneration schemes offered by different energy companies.
Solar energy is a simple process, even though it involves a lot of technical engineering on the part of the solar panels themselves.
Simply put, solar panels generate electricity through sunlight, either converting it directly into electricity like with photovoltaic solar panels, or by generating heat, like with thermodynamic solar panels.
This energy can either be used to power your home appliances, or it can be stored in a solar panel battery for later!
There are three types of solar panels that are available. These are all very similar in the fact they use the sun, however they have some differences in the way they utilise the sun to generate electricity. Here are the three main types and their differences:
All these different types of solar panels have their advantages and disadvantages, but in general the most popular are the PV solar panels. These are typically the only ones on offer and are the only ones covered by any grants.
Are Solar Panels Suitable for Ireland's Climate?
While Ireland has a relatively damp and somewhat cloudy climate, a solar system is a very viable option for Irish homeowners. While cloudy weather may filter some light, your panels are still able to capture energy from this light even in darker months during winter.
Solar panels as a technology have a tremendous amount of benefits in Ireland. Not only are they a great solution to the climate crisis, they can also provide a number of financial and practical benefits to help reduce your carbon footprint and costs at home! Here are some of the main solar panel benefits:
The average home with 4 solar panels installed can save over €500 per year on their electricity bills.
There are several factors that will influence how much money you can save with solar panels, including:
The website Purevolt.ie uses a solar panel savings calculator to estimate the potential savings your solar panel system could have. We used it to estimate the savings a standard home with 4 panels installed could make in a year.
Calculations based on standard values and a unit rate of 0.42c per kWh. Figures are designed to give an estimate and are for illustrative purposes.
The services and products mentioned on this website may only represent a small selection of the options available to you. Selectra encourages you to carry out your own research and seek advice if necessary before making any decisions. We may receive commission from selected partner providers on sales of some products and/or services mentioned within this website. Our website is free to use, and the commission we receive does not affect our opinion or the information we provide.
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