SEAI Solar Electricity (PV) Grant
Who: Owner of a home built and occupied before 2021. Work by an SEAI-registered contractor, with a BER after the works.
Official details on seai.ie →HOW TO HIRE · ELECTRICAL · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
A solar pv installation in Ireland costs €6,000–€12,000 per install, typically around €8,000. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
BEFORE YOU BOOK
REGISTERED FOR WHAT, EXACTLY. Contractors may only carry out the measures they are registered for, so a contractor on the list for insulation is not thereby approved for a heat pump. A renewable installer registers with SEAI first and then adds heat pump or solar PV. For solar PV the INSTALLER applies to ESB Networks for the grid connection, not you. Registration is not a licence to trade — anyone may install insulation. It is MANDATORY TO GET THE GRANT, which is the practical constraint for almost every homeowner.
Search the SEAI Registered Contractor List for the name or the registration number before you agree a price. seai.ie →
Expect public liability; grant work also carries SEAI's own code of practice. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
Providers on Locufy prove who they are with photo ID before they can be booked; the ID-checked badge shows who has done it, and the document itself is deleted once the check is made. For a solar panel installer coming into your home it is the cheapest check there is.
Look for the ID-checked badge on the card, before you message anyone.
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: A number you can look up yourself before you agree a price — post-Installation Support — after installation, ongoing support is offered, including system monitoring and maintenance services.
A good answer: The area covered is what the day rate is set against. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Bulky materials cost more to get to site. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: It affects the finish as much as it affects the price. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Installation Process — the installation process includes mounting solar panels, wiring the system, and connecting it to the grid — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a solar panel installer job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability; grant work also carries SEAI's own code of practice — system Design — once the site is assessed, a custom solar PV system design is created to meet your energy needs.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the solar panel installer starts, and an itemised invoice after — site Assessment — A thorough site assessment is conducted to evaluate the suitability of your property for solar PV installation.
The figures are for the job, per install, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Residential solar installation and Commercial solar installation each carry their own band. Solar PV Installation price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
AFTER
MONEY BACK
Who: Owner of a home built and occupied before 2021. Work by an SEAI-registered contractor, with a BER after the works.
Official details on seai.ie →Schemes change. The amounts above were checked on the dates shown; the official page is the one that counts.
The cost of solar PV installation is influenced by several factors including system size, type of equipment, roof complexity, and local labour rates. Additional costs may arise from necessary structural modifications or permits.
The duration of a solar PV installation can vary but typically takes 1 to 3 days. Larger or more complex installations may require additional time for planning and execution.
Yes, it is essential to hire a qualified specialist for solar PV installation due to the technical nature of the work and compliance with safety regulations. This includes electrical and structural assessments.
Same-day installation for solar PV systems is rare due to the need for proper assessment and planning. However, some companies may offer expedited services for urgent cases, depending on availability.
Out of scope services may include extensive roof repairs, landscaping for shading issues, or electrical work unrelated to the solar system. These tasks typically require separate arrangements with specialised contractors.
Search the name or the registration number. If the number does not resolve to the name on the quote, stop there.
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