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A typical 10-panel system (4.4 kWp) costs about €8,450 before the grant, or roughly €6,650 after the SEAI grant of up to €1,800 — installed prices for that size typically land in the €5,300–€8,300 range. Whole-panel systems generally run from about €4,442 for a small 6-panel setup up to €12,850 for a large 20-panel system after the grant, before adding a battery — our solar panel costs guide breaks down exactly what you're paying for. Get and compare multiple independent quotes before deciding. If you later want EnergyBase to arrange quotes, you can confirm that request from your saved report.

If your home was built and occupied before 2021, you almost certainly qualify. You need an MPRN number (your electricity meter reference) and must use an SEAI-registered installer. There's no means testing — it doesn't matter what you earn. The grant is applied directly to your quote, so you pay the reduced amount.

This is the most common myth and it's completely wrong. Solar panels work with daylight, not direct sunshine. Ireland's raw PVGIS data shows counties receiving between about 822 and 1,056 kWh per kWp per year (904 on average); our estimate tool normalises that to an effective south-facing range of about 818–1,051 kWh per kWp per year around a 900 kWh per kWp per year national baseline — see our guide to solar output in summer vs winter. Over 33,000 Irish homes installed solar in 2025 alone. As one Cork homeowner put it: 'Until they're on the roof it's hard not to doubt, yet here we are on an overcast day, generating electricity.'

For a panel-only system (no battery), typically about 6.7 to 7.2 years. With electricity prices rising 12% again recently, payback periods are actually getting shorter. After you break even, you're generating free electricity for the remaining 18-20+ years.

It depends on when you use electricity. If you're out all day and use most power in the evenings, a battery stores your daytime generation for later. If you work from home and use power during the day, you might not need one yet. A 5 kWh battery adds about €2,550 to your system cost (more for a bigger battery), which pushes the whole system's payback out to roughly 5-9.5 years for a 12–20 panel system — a smaller system paired with a large battery stretches payback further, toward 11 years and beyond. Looked at on its own, the battery is a weak investment — on a 12-panel system, a 5 kWh battery costs an extra €2,550 for about €143 a year in extra savings, an incremental payback of about 18 years. It's worth buying for resilience, evening use or EV charging, not for a faster return — we've written a full guide on whether a battery is worth it. Ask each installer to explain its assumptions and compare the advice across independent quotes.

Absolutely. An east/west setup generates about 85% of what a south-facing roof produces. Many Irish homes with east/west roofs get brilliant results. In some cases, it actually gives more consistent power throughout the day. Don't rule yourself out because of orientation — it's one of the biggest misconceptions out there.

This is a real concern — there are chancers in every industry. Check the company's current SEAI status, verify the electrical contractor on Safe Electric, examine reviews critically, ask for insurance and recent references, and compare multiple independent quotes. Our guide to choosing a solar installer covers the checks and common red flags. A directory listing or EnergyBase quote request is not an endorsement or guarantee.

Yes! Under the Microgeneration Support Scheme, your electricity supplier must pay you for any surplus you export. Rates currently range from 15c to 32c per kWh depending on your supplier. The first €400 per year is tax-free. You'll need a smart meter — ESB Networks installs these free of charge.