Solar panels in Ireland: where to start

Your starting point

Size, self-consumption and a clear written quote matter more than a promised saving. Use the same assumptions for every offer and verify the latest terms directly.

Start with your home and usage

Record annual electricity demand and when you use it. Consider roof orientation, shading, available area and roof condition. A larger system is not automatically better value if much of its output arrives when you cannot use it.

Separate generation from savings

A generation estimate is not a cash saving. Model electricity used at home separately from exported electricity. Value each at the applicable rate, then consider costs and maintenance. Ask the installer to show the assumptions behind a payback claim.

Check grants before work begins

SEAI provides a solar electricity grant with eligibility and application conditions. Its guidance requires grant approval before proceeding with works. Check the current rules directly and choose a registered company where the scheme requires one.

Compare equivalent quotes

Ask for panel capacity, inverter specification, monitoring, scaffolding, electrical works and warranties. List any battery separately. Two quotes with different inclusions cannot be judged on the headline price alone.

Treat a battery as a separate decision

A battery changes when energy can be used but also adds cost. Ask for a scenario with and without it, using realistic charge and discharge assumptions. Check usable capacity rather than relying only on a product name or nominal capacity.

Keep the paperwork

Save the survey, written contract, commissioning documents and warranty details. Ask who handles aftercare and how faults are reported. Use our quote checklist to compare proposals side by side before committing.