The SEAI solar grant, explained in plain English.
The grant knocks a real chunk off going solar, and most people find the rules murkier than they need to be. Here is exactly how much you get in 2026, who qualifies, and how the money actually reaches you. No jargon, no hard sell.
Grant by system size
€700 per kWp to 2 kWp, then €200 per kWp to 4 kWp. Capped at €1,800.
- 1 kWp€700
- 2 kWp€1,400
- 3 kWp€1,600
- 4 kWp or more€1,800
It is based on the size of your system
Solar systems are measured in kilowatts peak, or kWp, which is roughly the size of the array on your roof. The grant pays a set amount per kWp, and it steps down as the system gets bigger.
The first 2 kWp earn €700 each, so a 2 kWp system brings in €1,400. Every kWp after that, up to 4 kWp, earns €200. Once you reach 4 kWp the grant is capped at €1,800, and it stays at €1,800 no matter how many panels you add above that. Most family homes land at or above the 4 kWp mark, so most people get the full amount.
On top of the grant, there has been 0% VAT on the supply and installation of home solar panels since May 2023. That saving comes straight off the price before the grant is even counted.
Four things decide if you are eligible
A home built and occupied before 2021
The grant is for existing homes. If the house was built and lived in before 2021, that box is ticked.
An MPRN on your electricity bill
You need a meter point reference number, which every connected home already has. It is printed on your electricity bill.
No previous solar PV grant on the house
The solar PV grant can only be claimed once per home. A grant for a different measure, like attic insulation, does not use it up.
An SEAI registered installer
The work has to be done by a company on the SEAI registered list. Bright Star Electric is registered, so that is handled.
From application to money in your account
Apply before the work starts
The grant application goes in and is approved before a panel goes up. We look after this for you as part of the job, so nothing gets missed.
We install your system
Once the grant is approved you have an eight month window to get the work done. A typical home install is finished well inside that.
A BER assessment after the works
A post-works Building Energy Rating (BER) assessment is required to close out the grant. It also refreshes your home energy rating, which helps if you ever sell.
You claim, and SEAI pays out
The claim goes in with the paperwork and photos, and SEAI pays the grant into your account, usually in about four to six weeks.
The SEAI grant questions we get asked most
How much is the SEAI solar grant in 2026?
The SEAI solar PV grant pays €700 per kWp for the first 2 kWp, then €200 per kWp up to 4 kWp, capped at €1,800. So a 2 kWp system attracts €1,400 and a 4 kWp or larger system attracts the full €1,800.
Do I qualify for the solar grant?
Your home needs to have been built and occupied before 2021, have an MPRN (the number on your electricity bill), and not have claimed the solar PV grant before. The work must be done by an SEAI registered installer, and a BER assessment is needed after the works.
Do I pay the full price upfront and then claim it back?
The grant is paid to you after the work is done and the claim is submitted. Since May 2023 there is also 0% VAT on the supply and installation of domestic solar panels, so the VAT saving comes off the price directly.
How long does the grant take to be paid?
Once your claim and BER are submitted, SEAI usually pays the grant within about four to six weeks.
Is there VAT on solar panels in Ireland?
No. Since May 2023 the supply and installation of solar panels on homes is charged at 0% VAT, which lowers the cost before the grant is even applied.
Can Bright Star Electric handle the grant paperwork?
Yes. We are an SEAI registered installer, so we handle the grant application and coordinate the BER assessment as part of the job. You get a fixed quote at your free consultation with the grant already accounted for.
We handle the grant, you keep the saving.
Book a free consultation and you get a fixed quote with the SEAI grant already worked in, and we look after the application and the BER for you.