Solar Panels Ireland: Costs 2024

By David Tait

Editorial Manager

As of July 2024, solar panel installation for a 3-bed, semi-detached house in Ireland costs on average €6,145. This cost includes an SEAI grant designed to help homeowners with the costs of solar panel installation. Solar panels can help reduce household energy costs as well as having a positive impact on the environment. In our guide to solar panels in Ireland, we will break the costs involved with installing solar panels on your property.

How Much Do Solar Panels Cost In Ireland?

Solar panels can be an expensive invesment 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 which can help those interested in making savings on their energy consumption.

Here’s a quick table to show you make facts of getting a solar panel for different size houses:

Source: Purevolt
Last Updated: 05/07/2024

How Much Do Solar Panels Cost To Install?

Solar panels can cost anywhere from between €5,000 to €16,000 to install. This makes them one of the cheaper renewable energy solutions for your home, less expensive than an electric car or a hybrid car.

This pricing is generally based on the rate capacity offered by the solar panels so the higher capacity you need, the more expensive your solar panels will be. Here’s a graph to show you how the prices increase with more capacity:

Source: Energyd
Last Updated: 05/07/2024

How Much Does a Solar Panel Battery Cost?

A solar battery is usually an added cost on top of the cost of solar panels. Depending on the capacity, you might be looking at paying an extra €1,500 to €4,000 on top of what you pay for the installation.

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.

By selling your excess energy back into the national grid, you can offset some of the costs incolved in installing solar panels.

Can I Get a Grant for Solar Panels?

Fortunately, you can get a grant to help bring down the price of a solar panel for your property. 

The SEAI solar grants scheme offers significant funding to make the cost of the solar panels more affordable. However, the grant only applies to photovoltaic solar panels so if you want to install a different type you’ll have to pay for it yourself.

If you invest instead in getting a solar panel kit, you can save immensely on up front costs but you won't qualify for the SEAI grant.

Here’s a breakdown of how much a solar panel might cost you with the SEAI grant:

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Why Are Solar Panels So Expensive?

Taking into account their manufacturing costs, their installation costs, as well as their maintenance, the amount you have to pay for having your own solar panels can be quite challenging

Here are some of the factors that might influence the cost your solar panels in Ireland:

1. Type of Solar Panel
   There are many different types of solar panels and each one has its own cost. The different types of solar panels will have different ways of producing electricity than others and this can invariably affect the amount you pay.
2. Property Size
   You might need more solar panels if you have a larger house. This will mean you’ll need to pay more for your solar panel installation since you’ll want to have the generation necessary for powering your entire property.
3. Batteries
   You might also want to invest in getting a battery to store the electricity generated from solar power to use later. These can also vary depending on capacity and the quality.
4. Installation Costs
   Installing the solar panels on your property is one thing but having it done well is another. You’ll want to make sure that you’ve had the best quality installation so you don’t have problems further down the line and this can be quite
5. Quality
   Naturally, the quality of your solar panels are also going to make a difference to your budget. If you spend more on getting higher quality solar panels, you won't have to worry too much about their maintenance.

How Much Would I Save With Solar Panels?

As with any investment, it takes time to earn the money back and it can be frustrating having to wait to see the real savings from having the panels installed.

On average, whatever size solar panels, it will take around 3 to 4 years for your investment to pay off - which is certainly a lot quicker than installing your own wind farm. However, the more solar panels you invest in, the larger your return will be:

Do Solar Panels Help the Environment?

While making your energy bills cheaper, .For many, the main purpose of getting solar panels would be to help the environment  There’s a lot of debate as to whether solar panels are worth it, but ultimately to decide, you should consider three important factors:

1. CO2 Emissions Reduced
   The amount of CO2 emissions you reduce is the difference between how much you would have produced without a solar panel in your house. It also includes the equivalence of how many trees were planted. With solar panels, you can also reduce the government’s carbon tax.
2. Return on investment
   The return on investment is measured by the length of time it takes for your solar panel to have paid for itself. This is essentially how much you have saved on your electricity bill by having a solar panel installed.
3. Help with Cost of Living
   You can also help with the cost of living immensely with solar panels shaving off part of your energy bill. Though a hefty upfront cost, you're monthly outgoings will become a lot lower if you're using solar panels.

How Much Does My Carbon Footprint Reduce With Solar Panels?

Measuring how much your carbon footprint will have decreased isn’t an exact science, but you can see how much you can help the planet by having solar panels installed. Here are your expected carbon savings after having solar panels installed:

How Many Solar Panels Would It Take To Power a House?

The number of solar panels needed for a home can vary a lot depending on the capacity you need and how big your home is.

For example, a 2-bed terrace would need a lot less than a 6-bed terrace for example. Here’s a table that shows you the different rated capacities for each house size:

Source: Purevolt
Last Updated: 05/07/2024

Some people might just prefer to have enough solar panels to put a dent into their energy bills and are on a budget. However if you want to use solar panels as your main energy source, it’ll cost you a bit extra.

To find out how many solar panels you need for your home, have a look at out solar panel companies article and get a quote for your property.

How Are Solar Panels Measured?

The quantity of photovoltaic solar panels you need is measured in different ways to what you might expect. Instead of counting the number of solar panels you get installed, you order the capacity of the panels that you require for your property.

The capacity is measured in kilowatts (kW) known as its rated capacity. You can then calculate how much electricity you’ll be expecting to get after installation.

Example of Solar Panel Capacity If we have a solar panel with a capacity rating of 1kW. This means that for every square metre of sun, the solar panel will generate 1000 watts. 

Are Solar Panels Worth It in 2024 in Ireland?

So are solar panels worth the cost in Ireland? There are a lot of pros and cons surrounding solar panels.

On one side, they’re the ideal investment for today since we’re all moving towards renewable energy sources and need to keep the green transition going. They're also a great choice and alternative to getting an electric vehicle for instance.

What Are the Solar Panel Pros? ✅

1. Cheaper Electricity Bills
   With your own energy source, you’ll start making savings on your electricity bills almost instantly so you won’t be paying an energy company as much every month. You’ll also have a bit of protection against later price hikes.
2. Grants Available
   Grants are available for solar panels unlike for other renewable energy. The SEAI grants significantly reduces the upfront cost for your solar panels so you don’t have to worry too much about prices.
3. Good Return on Investment
   Since your return on your investment will be over 20%, that’s a really great return after you’ve made the money back.
4. Better for the Environment
   Naturally, investing in your own solar panels is the best way to invest in renewable energy for the rest of Ireland. It’s also one of the best ways that you can do your bit for the environment. 

What About the Solar Panel Cons? ❌

1. Hefty Upfront Costs
   The upfront costs are extortionate in some cases given the technology and the skill needed for the installation process. Hopefully one day these costs can be brought down to make it easier for people without as much in savings to install one.
2. Grants Are Limited
   Though the SEAI grants help with bringing down the cost, at the end of the day it still doesn’t make much of a dent in the price of the solar panels.
3. Investment Takes a While To Earn Back
   Although it's a worthwhile return, it does take a while to earn back, especially if you spend a lot of money on solar panels in the first place. 3 to 4 years might be too long to wait!
4. Solar Panels Sometimes Unreliable
   Solar panels are sometimes unreliable and unusable in cloudy weather, so you should definitely assess where you live and whether you get a lot of sunlight before you buy your solar panels - it might affect your return!