Rachel Cunningham
Dublin was the county with the most grant supported domestic solar installations in the first three months of 2023, with 865 homes having solar PV panels installed, figures released by the SEAI have revealed.
Across the country, there was over a threefold increase in grant-aided adoption of domestic solar panels in 2023 versus the same period last year.
Data provided by the SEAI to EnergyEfficiency Ireland, a new website which connects homeowners with local SEAI registered solar installers, indicated a 255 per cent increase in the number of home solar installations in Ireland through SEAI grants.
Cavan came out on top with the largest increase in grant supported installations, followed by Waterford and Carlow.
At a provincial level, Leinster had the highest number of home solar installations, with 2,102 homes getting solar panels fitted in early 2023, an increase of 250 per cent on last year.
However, the largest growth year-on-year was in Ulster, where 204 homes had solar panels installed, at a significant growth of 397 per cent compared with 41 homes in the same period last year.
Cork followed Dublin with 512 solar installations from January to March, and Galway saw the third most in the country with 257.
“The rising interest that people have in home solar power is clearly seen in the fact that home solar installations have more than doubled in 2023,” said James Dorrian, Managing Director of Energy Efficiency Ireland.
“The stark difference between the figures for the start of this year, and the same three months in 2022, show that solar power is becoming an increasingly affordable option for homeowners looking to save money on their electricity bills, while also reducing their carbon footprint.”
“As electricity prices remain stubbornly high, and with the reduced zero per cent VAT rate for solar on residential properties, we’re expecting to see continued strong interest in solar PV from homeowners who want to become energy independent.”
The government cut the VAT rate on the supply and installation of domestic solar panels from 13.5 per cent to nothing at the start of May this year to help families with high electricity prices and encourage the growth of micro-generation within Ireland.
The SEAI offers grants of up to €2,400 for homeowners who are having solar PV panels installed on their property. This scheme is eligible for all homes built and occupied prior to 2021.
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