Solar Guide
Choosing a Solar Installer: What to Expect
The installer you choose matters as much as the panels they put on your roof. Here's what a good installation process looks like, what to watch out for, and how to tell the professionals from the cowboys. This guide is part of our complete guide to solar panels in Ireland.
Key Takeaways
- SEAI registration is mandatory for the grant — and a baseline quality check for any installer
- The full process from first contact to generating power typically takes 4–8 weeks
- A good installer always does a site visit before giving a final quote
- There are 345 registered domestic solar PV companies in Ireland as of 2026
The Full Installation Process
From your first enquiry to flipping the switch, a properly managed solar installation follows six clear steps. Understanding each one helps you spot when something's off.
Initial contact and enquiry
You reach out to an installer (or a service like EnergyBase.ie). Share your basic details — house type, roof orientation, typical electricity bill. A good company will answer your initial questions without pressuring you to commit.
Site survey
A qualified installer visits your home to assess your roof (condition, orientation, shade, access), check your electrical panel, and discuss your energy usage. This is essential — no one can give an accurate quote without seeing your property.
System design and quote
Based on the site survey, the installer designs a system tailored to your home and provides a detailed written quote. This should itemise panels, inverter, mounting, electrical work, scaffolding, BER assessment, and any extras. See our <a href='/guides/solar-panel-costs'>cost guide</a> for what each item should cost.
SEAI grant application
Your installer submits the grant application on your behalf. You must receive the SEAI approval letter before any work begins. They also apply to ESB Networks for grid connection — this typically takes 4+ weeks.
Installation (1–2 days)
The installation team arrives with scaffolding, fits mounting rails and panels, installs the inverter and wiring, and connects everything. Most systems are installed in a single day. Adding a <a href='/guides/solar-battery-worth-it'>battery</a> may add a few extra hours.
BER assessment and commissioning
A registered BER assessor visits to update your home’s energy rating. Your installer commissions the system, registers it with ESB Networks, and hands you the monitoring app login. You’re now generating your own electricity.
The actual installation is the quick part — just 1–2 days. Most of the 4–8 week timeline is waiting on paperwork: SEAI grant approval, ESB Networks grid connection application, and scheduling. Before you start, make sure your home is suitable for solar panels.
What a Good Installer Will Do at Each Stage
During the site survey
- Physically inspect your roof from outside (and ideally the attic space)
- Check your electrical consumer unit (fuse board) for capacity
- Assess shading from trees, chimneys, and neighbouring buildings
- Measure available roof area and confirm orientation with a compass
- Discuss your electricity usage patterns and bill size
- Explain what system size they'd recommend and why — our seasonal output guide helps you understand their projections
In the written quote
- Itemised cost breakdown (panels, inverter, mounting, electrical, scaffolding, BER)
- Specific equipment brands and models
- Expected annual generation in kWh
- Estimated annual savings
- SEAI grant amount deducted
- Warranty terms for panels, inverter, and workmanship
- Timeline for installation
If any of these are missing, ask. A transparent installer will be happy to provide them. Our cost breakdown guide explains each line item so you know what to expect.
Red Flags to Watch For
Warning signs of a bad installer
No SEAI registration: Without this, you won't get the €1,800 grant. It's also the baseline quality and qualification check — registered installers must hold QQI Level 6 qualifications and be Registered Electrical Contractors.
No site visit before quoting: Anyone who gives you a final price without visiting your home is guessing. Roof condition, orientation, shade, and electrical capacity all affect the design and cost.
High-pressure sales tactics: "Sign today or the price goes up." "This offer expires Friday." Legitimate installers don't need to pressure you. Walk away.
Unusually low quotes: If one quote is dramatically lower than the rest, ask why. It may mean corners are being cut on equipment quality, labour, or warranty coverage.
No insurance documentation: A reputable installer carries public liability insurance and professional indemnity insurance. Ask to see certificates if they're not provided.
No written warranty: Verbal promises mean nothing. You need written warranties for panels (25–30 years is standard), inverter (10–15 years), and workmanship (minimum 2 years, ideally more).
What SEAI Registration Actually Means
SEAI registration isn't just a rubber stamp. To become and remain registered, installers must meet specific requirements:
- Hold QQI Level 6 qualifications in solar PV systems implementation
- Be a Registered Electrical Contractor (REC) with Safe Electric Ireland
- Provide proof of tax clearance and insurance
- Complete a 6-month provisional period with satisfactory inspection pass rates
- Maintain a minimum of 5 installations per year to stay registered
As of 2026, there are 345 registered domestic solar PV companies in Ireland. Registration is necessary for your installer to process the SEAI grant on your behalf — and it's a meaningful indicator of professional standards. The grant is worth up to €1,800, so using a registered installer is essential.
How to Verify an Installer
Don't take anyone's word for it. You can verify an installer's credentials yourself:
- SEAI Registered List: SEAI publishes a searchable list of all registered solar PV installers on their website. If a company isn't on it, they can't process your grant.
- Safe Electric Register: Check they're a Registered Electrical Contractor at safeelectric.ie
- Google Reviews / Trustpilot: Look for genuine reviews from real customers. The industry average is 4.7/5 on Google — a company well below that is worth questioning.
- Ask for references: A good installer will happily put you in touch with recent customers in your area.
- Check their insurance: Ask for public liability and professional indemnity certificates.
To make this easier, we've compiled a directory of solar installers drawn from the public SEAI register, with company websites, public review data and trading history where available, filterable by county. Check every detail remains current before relying on it.
How EnergyBase.ie Separates the Estimate from a Quote Request
We're not an installer. Our role is to save an indicative solar estimate and secure report, then let you decide later whether to ask us to arrange installer quotes. Learn more about how we work.
- The short estimate journey saves a report with EnergyBase; it does not contact an installer
- An operational email gives you a time-limited way to reopen the secure report
- The report shows the applicable sharing notice before any quote request is confirmed
- Only that final confirmation lets EnergyBase select installer partners and share the stated information
- Returning or making changes updates the same report and request instead of creating duplicates
Review first, request later
Saving the estimate is not a quote request or installer lead. If you do want quotes, complete the separate request inside the report and check the sharing notice before you confirm.
Request Installer Quotes When You Are Ready
Start with our savings calculator, then save a more detailed estimate and review it in your secure report. A separate quote request is available there if you decide you want one.
Ready to save your solar estimate?
Get the secure report first. Installer sharing starts only if you later confirm a quote request — free, no obligation.
Get Your Solar Estimate