The SEAI Solar Electricity (PV) Grant is the main support for homeowners installing solar panels in Ireland, worth up to €1,800 in 2026. It’s calculated on the size of the system, it has a few eligibility rules that catch people out, and the order of steps matters. This guide covers all three, with worked examples.
How the grant is calculated
The grant follows the installed panel capacity in kWp (kilowatt-peak):
| System size | Calculation | Grant |
|---|---|---|
| 1 kWp | 1 × €700 | €700 |
| 2 kWp | 2 × €700 | €1,400 |
| 3 kWp | €1,400 + 1 × €200 | €1,600 |
| 4 kWp | €1,400 + 2 × €200 | €1,800 |
| 5–6 kWp | capped | €1,800 |
What the grant covers as a share of the cost
Using purely illustrative quotes:
| System | Example quote | Grant | Net cost | Grant as share of quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kWp | €6,000 | €1,400 | €4,600 | 23% |
| 4 kWp | €9,000 | €1,800 | €7,200 | 20% |
| 6 kWp | €11,500 | €1,800 | €9,700 | 16% |
The first two kWp attract the most grant per kWp. Above 4 kWp, every extra euro is unsupported, so the extra output needs a use in the home — an EV, a heat pump or a hot water diverter — to earn its keep. See how many solar panels do I need.
Who is eligible?
- A home built and occupied before 2021
- A valid MPRN — the grant is tied to it, and only one solar PV grant is paid per MPRN
- An SEAI-registered installer
- Approval before the installation starts
If you bought a home that already had a grant-aided system, the MPRN rule usually rules out a second grant for adding more panels — check with SEAI before planning an extension.
From application to payment
- Get two or three quotes from SEAI-registered installers, each stating the kWp, panel and inverter models, and the expected annual generation.
- Apply online to SEAI for the solar PV grant.
- Wait for the approval. Don’t book or start the installation yet.
- Install within the completion window — generally about 8 months from approval.
- ESB Networks notification: the installer submits the NC6 form so the system can export and earn payments — see selling electricity back to the grid.
- Post-works BER if required for your claim — see BER assessment cost.
- Submit the paperwork; SEAI pays the grant to you.
The general process, with a cash-flow example, is in how to apply for an SEAI grant.
Why claims get delayed or refused
- Work began before approval.
- The installer isn’t registered for solar PV.
- The installed kWp differs from the application without the change being handled.
- A previous PV grant was already paid at the same MPRN.
- Missing paperwork, or a required BER not yet done.
How the grant fits with payback
The grant is one of three things that lower the real cost, alongside 0% VAT on domestic panels and export payments. Whether it all adds up for your home depends mostly on how much of the output you use — see the worked example in are solar panels worth it in Ireland? and price ranges in solar panel cost in Ireland.
