DIY Solar Panel Kits: The Complete Solar Panel Kit Guide

By David Tait Reviewed by Cormac Breen

Editorial Manager

Solar Kits range in price from €1,000 to €8,000+ depending on the amount of panels you choose to install. DIY solar panel kits allow you to install your own solar panels at home without the need for contracting a professional solar panel installation company. There are no SEAI grants available for DIY solar kits.

How Much Does a Solar Kit Cost in Ireland?

The cost of a solar panel kit can vary greatly but range from €1,000 to €8,000+ depending on the number of panels you choose to install.

DIY kits are often seen as a cheap alternative to having solar panels professionally installed, however there are several hidden costs to take into account that will further increase their cost:

Source: Energyd.ie
Last Updated: October 2024

As can be seen from the table above, the extra costs involved in installing your own solar panels could add up to over €2,000 more to your costs.

What Is a DIY Solar Kit?

DIY solar panel kits work in exactly the same way as standard solar panels, with the only difference being that you do most of the installation yourself as opposed to contracting a professional company.

Solar kits contain everything you need to set up solar energy for your home. You can get them in a range of sizes, depending on how many solar panels your property might need, and with customisable configurations to make sure they fit where they should.

Once installed, they will function in exactly the same way as standard solar panels:

What’s Included in a Solar Kit?

A solar panel kit contains all the main solar panels components you’ll need for a successful solar power system at home.

The main components you’ll get in a kit include the following:

• Solar Panels
  You’ll receive your solar panels with the specifications you’ve requested for your property. Depending on what you go for, you can either receive monocrystalline or polycrystalline solar cells, and you’ll receive the panel in its glass casing.
• Mounting Hardware
  You’ll also receive the necessary hardware for helping you mount the solar panels on your roof to make sure they’re secured.
• Inverter
  You’ll also receive the inverter, which converts the direct current (DC) electricity from the sun into alternating current (AC) that your home runs.
• Battery
  If you want to get a solar power battery so you can store the electricity to use for later, you can do so with your solar kits as well. Solar batteries usually come at a much greater cost to your overall solar panel kit.
• Cables
  You’ll get all the cables and wiring to make sure your solar panel is all connected up to be able to distribute the power from the panel as well as to your property.
• Instructions
  You’ll receive the instructions manual to know exactly how to mount, connect up, and activate your solar panels once you’ve received them, and they’re starting to work.

Read More About Solar Panel Components!

What Types of Solar Kits Are There?

You can usually get two types of solar kits: those that work with the national grid, and others that are off-grid. Here are the main differences:

1. Grid Connection
   Solar panel kits with a grid connection can be hooked up to Eirgrid so you can actually export your surplus solar energy and get paid for it. This is usually part of a microgeneration scheme that is offered by many different solar panel companies.
2. Off-Grid
   Off-grid solar panels are less of a hassle, but they don’t give you the ability to benefit from the microgeneration programmes on offer. However, they will help you reduce your energy bills by using the sunlight to generate part of your electricity demand without needing to rely completely on your energy supplier.

Are There Any Regulations for Installing DIY Solar Kits?

While DIY solar kits offer you more control over how you want them installed, there are some regulations that you must follow when installing them:

1. Electrician
   A qualified electrician must sign off on the work and make the actual electrical connections.
2. ESB Networks
   The electrician must inform the ESB of the installation by submitting form NC6.
3. Inverter
   You must use an inverter that conforms to IS EN 50549-1 with documents to prove it.
4. Hardware
   All hardware must be CE marked and conform to the National Rules for Electrical Installations.
5. Planning Permission
   Make sure to follow the rules for planning permission exemptions. In particular to keep panels at least 50 cm from roof edges.

What Are the Advantages of a DIY Solar Kits?

Getting a solar panel kit has many great advantages to it, since you don’t have to rely on a separate solar panel company to do it all for you.

However, there are some drawbacks, so you also need to consider these before you buy a kit.

✅ Advantages of a Solar Panel Kit

Solar kits have a lot of advantages that can help you transition to green and renewable energy

Here are some of the main advantages of solar panel kits:

• Convenience
  Installing your solar panels gives you some degree of control over how and when you install them, however you will still need to wait for a professional electrical assessment before you can start using them.
• Cost-Effective
  Buying solar panel kits, though still expensive, are usually a lot cheaper than having to buy solar panels from a solar panel company. There are hidden costs to factor into the overall cost, so be sure to calculate these before purchasing your panels.
• Lower Energy Bills
  While there is a large upfront cost to solar panels, the long term savings from reduced energy bills make them a smart investment as well as having a positive impact on the environment.
• Microgeneration
  As part of the government's Micro Generation Support Scheme, any excess energy produced by the panels can be sold back into the national grid.

❌ Disadvantages of a Solar Panel Kit

Despite the obvious advantage of lowering your home energy bills while reducing your carbon emissions, there are some disadvantages to DIY solar kits:

• High Initial Cost
  Despite being cheaper, solar panel kits tend to be very expensive when you pay for them upfront. This high initial cost may be off-putting to some people, especially since it can take up to 5 years to see a return on investment.
• Not Completely DIY
  While being somewhat of a DIY job, ultimately you still need to pay for a professional electrical assessment and wiring. On top of this, you also need a professional roofer to help install the panels. You might also have to worry about doing your own solar panel repairs too.
• Weather Durability
  Almost all solar panels are susceptible to weather conditions, so buying solar panel kits might not be best equipped for dealing with adverse conditions and might get damaged more easily.
• No Grants Available
  There are no SEAI grants available for DIY kits, meaning you don't benefit from any reduction in the cost of their installation.