Are Solar Panels Worth It in Ireland?

✔ Solar panels will save you €426 per year, on average

✔ Government grants cut the typical cost of solar panels by €2,250

✔ A three-bedroom household will usually break even in 9.6 years

Solar panels can cut your energy bills, reduce your carbon footprint, and increase your energy independence – not to mention solar panel costs are lower than ever.

And this is the best time for people in Ireland to go solar.

Electricity prices have gone through the roof, a government grant can cut the cost of your installation by thousands of euros, and energy suppliers are set to start paying you for your excess power.

If you’re already keen to get started with solar panels, just use our easy-to-navigate tool.

Enter a few quick details, and our trusted suppliers will be in touch with free quotes for you to compare.

Should you buy solar panels if you live in Ireland?

You should absolutely buy solar panels if you live in Ireland.

Electricity prices have risen to an eye-watering 31.3c per kWh, meaning the average three-bedroom household is set to pay €908 per year for electricity.

Solar panels can provide you with free, clean electricity, saving you €426 per year on average and reducing your annual carbon footprint by half a tonne of CO2.

This is the time to act, too. Government grants have cut the cost of installing solar panels by thousands of euros, meaning the typical household will save 39.5% if they buy now.

According to our calculations, the average break-even point is just 9.6 years, which should leave you with at least 15 years to rake in pure profit.

How much do solar panels cost in Ireland?

In Ireland, solar panels for the average household cost €345 per 350 kW unit.

That price would be €570 per panel, except for a generous government grant that currently reduces the cost by 39.5%.

This means that a 10-panel, 3.5 kWp system – which is what the typical three-bedroom home requires – costs €3,450 instead of €5,700.

The grant makes it possible for thousands more homes to buy solar panels, and drastically cuts the average homeowner’s break-even point to 9.6 years.

If you want to see how much solar panels would cost you, it’s never been easier to find out with our free tool.

Just enter a few quick details, and our trusted suppliers will be in touch with free quotes for you to compare.

Are there government grants for solar panels in Ireland?

Yes, there are government grants for solar panels in Ireland – and you should make the most of them while they exist.

Firstly, there’s the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) grant.

This fantastic grant will pay you €900 per kW until you’ve installed 2 kW of solar panels, then €300 per kW for the next 2 kW, up to a maximum total of €2,400.

Instead of paying €5,700 for 10 panels, the average household will pay €3,450.

Hurry to take advantage of this grant, as its maximum worth will fall by €300 in 2024 – a 12.5% reduction – and will continue to drop by €300 every year after that.

The Irish government has also launched the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG), a scheme that pays households for every kilowatt of solar energy they export to the National Grid.

So if you don’t use all the power you generate, you can still use it to save you money.

The six suppliers providing a CEG tariff – Bord Gais, Electric Ireland, Energia, Flogas, Pinergy, and SSE Airtricity – currently offer 20c per kWh, on average.

That's four times more than the rest of the UK receives through the Smart Export Guarantee.

And you may not have to pay any tax on that income, as households are allowed to receive tax-free payments up to €200 per year for residual renewable electricity.

Do solar panels work in Irish weather?

Solar panels definitely work in Irish weather.

This country’s mild climate is actually an advantage for solar panel owners, as it guards against the biggest threat to their investment: overheating.

Panels also do their best, most efficient work when the temperature is between 15°C and 35°C – which is typically the situation on any given Irish roof.

And though it doesn’t always feel like it, Ireland is blessed with 1,350 hours of sunshine, on average – just 22 less than the UK, and more than enough to power your home.

More sunshine would always be welcome, of course – but nevertheless, Irish households are excellently placed to benefit from solar power.

How many people have solar panels in Ireland?

50,000 homes in Ireland have solar panels.

That means one in every 33 homes in the country is taking advantage of this renewable form of energy.

The number of solar panel owners is only increasing, too, with solar energy production rising by 81% since 2010, according to the Central Statistics Office.

Next steps

With the SEAI grant cutting your initial costs by thousands of euros, and the CEG set to increase your savings even further, there’s never been a better time to get solar panels.

You can save money and the planet, which is exactly what you want from a renewable energy source.

If you’d like to see how much it would cost you to start cutting your energy bills and making money from selling your extra solar power, just use our free tool.

Enter a few quick details, and our trusted experts will be in touch with free quotes for you to compare.