Know Your Rights: Grants for solar panels

Question

I heard that there is a new grant scheme for installing solar panels in your home. How does the scheme work and do I qualify?

Answer

The Solar PV scheme gives grants to install solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and a battery energy storage system at your home. This means you can generate and use renewable electricity in your home and reduce your electricity costs. The Solar PV scheme is a pilot scheme administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

To qualify for a grant you must:

• Be the owner of a home built and occupied before 2011 (or a home constructed after 2011 that was built to the 2008 Building Regulations)
• Use new materials and products that were not already covered under another grant programme
• Use a registered contractor from the SEAI’s Renewable Installers Register for Solar PV
• Have the electrical work completed by a Safe Electric Ireland electrician
• Apply to be connected to the electricity distribution system using the ESB Networks NC6 form (pdf)
• Have a Building Energy Rating (BER) carried out after the work is completed
• Agree to participate in SEAI research about the scheme

The grant covers materials and labour, unless you are a contractor doing the work in your own home. In this case only the cost of the materials is covered.

When the SEAI payment system opens (in October 2018) you can claim your grant online and it will be paid directly into your bank account.