If you're putting solar panels on your home in Ireland, the SEAI will pay part of the bill.
It isn't a huge sum next to the cost of a full system, but it isn't small either. And it's surprisingly easy to lose, usually because of something done in the wrong order.
Here's how it works.
How much is the grant?
The grant is worked out on the size of your system, measured in kilowatt-peak (kWp):
- €700 per kWp for the first 2 kWp
- €200 per kWp for the next 2 kWp, up to 4 kWp
- Nothing extra above 4 kWp
That puts the maximum at €1,800, which you reach with a 4 kWp system. You can fit a bigger system, but the grant stops growing at that point.
Since October 2026 there is also a separate grant towards a home battery when it's installed alongside or after your panels. The amounts and conditions are on the SEAI website.
Who qualifies?
In short:
- You own the home, or you're a private landlord letting it.
- The house was built and occupied before 2025. This cut-off moved forward in October 2026. Older guides still give 2021, so check the date on anything you read.
- Nobody has had a solar PV grant for that electricity meter before. The grant is tied to your MPRN, the number on your electricity bill.
- You use an SEAI-registered installer. A company that isn't on the register can't do grant-funded work, however good it is.
The order matters
This is where people come unstuck.
1. Apply before any work starts. You apply online with your MPRN and your chosen installer. You'll get a grant offer by return. If the installer starts before you have that offer, you lose the grant entirely.
2. Install within the offer period. The offer lasts a fixed number of months, stated on your letter. Don't let it lapse while you compare quotes.
3. Let your installer notify ESB Networks. Every system connected to the grid has to be registered with ESB Networks, using a form called the NC6. Your installer normally handles this.
4. Get a BER done after installation. A registered BER assessor has to rate your home once the panels are in. The grant isn't paid without it, so budget for it.
5. Submit the paperwork. You and your installer complete a Declaration of Works with the certificates, photos and invoice. Payment follows once SEAI has checked it.
Is the grant the main reason to do it?
No. The grant takes a chunk off the upfront cost, but what decides whether solar pays off is how much electricity your system saves you over 20+ years.
That depends on your roof, when you use electricity, and what you're paid for the power you export. We cover that in Is solar worth it in Ireland?.
Before you sign anything
Grant rules change, and they changed twice in October 2026 alone. Before you commit, check the current figures and conditions on the SEAI website, and make sure the installer you're talking to is on the SEAI register.
