Ireland has made significant strides in promoting renewable energy, with solar playing a central role. To accelerate adoption the Irish government has introduced a range of incentives and support schemes that make solar installations more affordable for homeowners, farmers and businesses. Here is a full breakdown of what is available and who qualifies.
SEAI Solar PV Grant
The most widely used incentive is the Solar PV Grant provided by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) under the Better Energy Homes scheme. This grant is available to homeowners who want to install solar photovoltaic panels on their property.
Who Qualifies
To qualify for the SEAI solar PV grant you must own the property, have it built before 2021 and use it as your primary residence. You must also use a SEAI registered contractor — this is a hard requirement and not optional. Landlords and rental properties do not qualify under this scheme.
How Much is Available
The grant provides up to €2,400 towards the cost of a residential solar panel installation. The exact amount depends on the system size installed. The grant is typically paid directly to your installer, meaning you pay only the balance.
How to Apply
Your SEAI registered installer handles the application on your behalf. The application must be submitted and approved before installation begins — you cannot apply retrospectively after the work is done. This is one of the most common mistakes homeowners make, so confirm the application has been submitted and approved before allowing any work to start.
Clean Export Guarantee (CEG)
The Clean Export Guarantee scheme requires all electricity suppliers in Ireland to pay homeowners for surplus solar electricity exported to the national grid. Introduced in 2022, this replaced the previous microgeneration arrangements and significantly improved the financial return for solar panel owners.
CEG rates vary by supplier and are updated periodically. In 2026 rates range from approximately 10 to 24 cent per kWh depending on which supplier you are with. It is worth comparing CEG rates across suppliers before or after installation — switching to a supplier with a better export rate can add €100 to €200 per year to your return.
To access CEG payments you need to register your system with SEAI, notify ESB Networks of your installation and apply to your electricity supplier for the export tariff. Your installer should guide you through this at commissioning.
Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS)
The Microgeneration Support Scheme supports small-scale renewable energy producers including homeowners, farmers and small businesses. It provides a flat-rate payment for electricity generated by eligible microgeneration systems including solar PV, in addition to the export payments available under the CEG.
The MSS is designed to improve the economics of small-scale generation and make it more viable for a wider range of properties and use cases. Your installer can confirm whether your system qualifies and how to register.
Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA) for Businesses
For businesses, the Accelerated Capital Allowance scheme allows companies to deduct the full cost of qualifying energy-efficient equipment — including solar panels — from their taxable profits in the year of purchase rather than over multiple years.
This significantly improves the financial return for businesses investing in solar and reduces the effective upfront cost of installation. If you are installing solar for a business premises it is worth discussing the ACA with your accountant alongside the installation quote.
Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS)
The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme is aimed at larger-scale renewable energy projects including commercial solar farms. RESS operates through competitive auctions where developers bid for long-term support contracts that provide guaranteed payments for the electricity they generate.
This scheme is less relevant for residential homeowners but has been a major driver of large-scale solar farm development in Ireland and underpins the commercial viability of utility-scale solar investment.
TAMS III for Farmers
Farmers can access Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS III) grants for on-farm renewable energy including solar PV installations. Grant rates of up to 60% of eligible costs are available for qualifying farmers, making solar particularly attractive for agricultural use cases such as powering milking operations, grain drying or farm buildings.
This is one of the most generous grant rates available for solar in Ireland and is significantly underutilised. If you farm and have not explored TAMS III it is well worth investigating.
The Combined Financial Case
Stacking the available incentives meaningfully improves the economics of going solar in Ireland. A homeowner installing a 4kWp system in 2026 could benefit from the €2,400 SEAI grant reducing upfront costs, CEG export payments generating €100 to €300 per year, and self-consumption savings of €600 to €800 per year — delivering a total annual benefit of €700 to €1,100 and a payback period of 7 to 10 years before the system continues generating essentially free electricity for another 15 to 20 years.
Government support for solar energy in Ireland is strong and the financial case for installation has never been more compelling. If you want to understand exactly what grants and schemes apply to your specific situation, a SEAI registered installer can assess your property and walk you through the full picture.