Residential Solar PV Grant

SEAI Solar PV Grant: Your Guide to Affordable Solar Energy in Ireland

If you’re considering installing solar panels on your home, the SEAI Solar PV Grant is a valuable financial incentive designed to make renewable energy more accessible and affordable for Irish homeowners. Administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), this grant helps reduce the upfront cost of installing solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, enabling you to generate your own clean electricity and save on energy bills.

What is the SEAI Solar PV Grant?

The SEAI Solar PV Grant offers financial support to homeowners who install solar PV systems, which convert sunlight into electricity for use in your home. The grant covers a portion of the installation costs, including solar panels, inverters, and associated equipment, helping to lower your initial investment significantly.

Updated Grant Amounts for 2025

From 1st January 2025, the maximum grant amount has been adjusted to €1,800, down from €2,100 in previous years. The grant amount is calculated based on the size of your solar PV system, with the following rates applying:

• €700 per kWp for the first 2 kWp
• €200 per kWp for the next 2 kWp

This means the maximum grant of €1,800 typically covers systems up to around 4 kWp.

What is a kWp?

“kWp” stands for kilowatt-peak. It’s a measure of the system’s potential output. This is a measure of the output of a solar panel under peak conditions. A solar panel rated for 2kWp for example, will produce 2 kilowatt-hours of energy in an hour in ideal conditions. Most solar panels will produce about 90-95% of their kWp rating on a sunny day. The SEAI grant takes the kWp of the system being installed into account to calculate the grant amount, as shown above.

Who is Eligible for the SEAI Solar PV Grant?

To qualify for the grant, your property must meet these criteria:

• Be a residential home built and occupied before 31st December 2020.
• Not have previously received SEAI funding for solar PV under the same Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN).
• You must apply and receive grant approval from SEAI before any installation work begins.
• The grant is available to homeowners, including private landlords.

How to Apply for the SEAI Solar PV Grant

1. Choose an SEAI Registered Installer – Like LVP Renewables: Select a qualified solar installer registered with SEAI to ensure compliance with all technical and regulatory requirements.
2. Submit Your Grant Application: Apply online to SEAI and wait for your Letter of Offer confirming your grant amount.
3. Installation: Once approved, your installer will carry out the solar PV installation.
4. Post-Installation BER Assessment: A Building Energy Rating (BER) assessment must be completed to verify energy efficiency improvements.
5. Submit Declaration of Works: Your installer submits the necessary paperwork to SEAI to claim the grant.
6. Receive Grant Payment: SEAI processes the claim and pays the grant directly to you.

Important Timelines and Conditions

• After receiving grant approval, you have 8 months to complete the installation and submit all required documentation.
• Failure to meet this deadline will result in the grant offer expiring.
• Draft applications do not secure the grant; only a formal Letter of Offer confirms your eligibility.
• Changing your installer after application submission requires cancelling and reapplying, potentially affecting your grant amount if rates have changed.

Benefits of Installing Solar Panels with the SEAI Grant

• Significant Cost Savings: The grant reduces the upfront cost of solar PV systems, making solar energy more affordable.
• Lower Energy Bills: Generate your own electricity, reducing reliance on grid power and saving money long-term.
• Increase Property Value: Solar panels can enhance your home’s energy efficiency rating and market appeal.
• Environmental Impact: Reduce your carbon footprint by using clean, renewable energy.
• 0% VAT on Solar Installations: Recent tax changes further improve affordability by removing VAT on solar panel supply and installation

Get in touch with the team here at LVP today to arrange an appointment and see how we can start saving you money and help you install solar in your home. Please ensure to have your bank details and your MPRN Number to hand for grant applications.

Please contact LVP on (01) 8643838 and we can send you out a relevant step by step guide to complete your application. It is important to specify the size of your system when applying for the grant.