Irish Solar Grants: The Fuel For A Green Revolution
Updated July 26th, 2024
By Morgan Pierce
“Once in place they will sit there for decades, making no noise, emitting no fumes, using no resources, costing almost nothing, and generating power. It is the least obtrusive revolution imaginable. But it is a revolution nonetheless.”
Those are not our words, or the words of any of our industry competitors. They are not a pitch from the Irish Solar Energy Association. Nor are they the claims of any environmental or renewable energy campaign. That stunning paragraph was published in June in a multi-page spread on solar power in the pages of the venerable conservative business journal, The Economist.
The article is full of amazing insights into our industry – everything from how panels generate power, to who are the producers to watch, to the impact of major infusions of solar on the global cost of energy. Over coming weeks, we’ll be sharing some of those insights, and talking about what they might mean for those of us here in Ireland.
For now, though, we want to focus on answering the “how” and “why”. How and why did our industry go from taking a whole year to increase solar power capacity by 1 GW (that’s a billion watts) to one in which it grows by 1-2 GW per day?
The growth of solar is explained by a simple phrase, “supply and demand”. Three little words that conjure a key concept in microeconomics – one you don’t need a business degree to get your head around. If you manufacture more of something – say for example, solar panels – the price goes down. Lower prices increase demand. And that’s exactly what has happened in the solar energy industry.
In the case of solar power, according to The Economist, demand has been “created and sustained” by government solar grants and incentives that made solar affordable to an increasing number of homeowners and businesses.
Here at home, Government has promoted solar energy as Ireland’s “sustainability moonshot”. That meant a boost in Irish solar grants and incentives for Irish businesses and agriculture as well as homeowners.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) are the two main organisations that offer solar grants to Irish homeowners, farmers, schools, businesses and community centres, to install solar systems.
SEAI Solar Grants for Irish Homes and Businesses
The SEAI provides solar grants to both homeowners and non-domestic groups who want to install solar. The grants cover the cost of labour and materials. The amount depends on the size of the system, based on the kilowatt peak (kWp) installed.
Homeowners can apply for the Solar Electricity Grant. The rate is €900 per kWp, up to 2 kWp and €300 for each additional kWp until 4kWp. The maximum grant is €2,100.
Most solar installers will help process the paperwork to make sure their customers get the largest grant available. That’s great – but it still leaves homeowners shelling out the total “upfront” and waiting to be reimbursed.
The SolarSmart alternative is to take the burden off our customers. We take the wait out of the solar grant application process – by taking it on ourselves. We’re so confident in our ability to install a fully grant-eligible solar system, that we will do all the paperwork and all the waiting. That means that anyone who buys a system from us will pay €2,100 less upfront than they would from any other company.
Businesses, schools, farms and other organisations can apply for the Non-Domestic Microgeneration Grant (NDMG). The rate is the same as outlined above for homeowners. A fresh injection of funds means the grant has been expanded in the last year – with some business owners now able to claim as much as €162,000 back in grant money after installation.
The Irish solar grants cover a wide-range of businesses, community groups and public buildings – and can benefit everything from the local siopa, to GAA and rugby clubs, to large manufacturing plants.
The grants available are as follows:
- Up to 6kWp will remain unchanged up to €2,400, with an additional:
- €300/kWp for each extra kWp installed between 7kWp -20kWp
- €200/kWp for each extra kWp installed between 21kWp- 200kWp
- €150/kWp for each extra kWp installed between 201kWp-1000kWp
This means that installations up to 1MW are eligible for a solar grant of up to €162,600!
Businesses and community groups taking up the opportunity to go solar will reap the financial benefits from the new grants right away. They should also see rewards in the longer-term as environmentally-aware consumers reward enterprises taking the lead toward a fossil-free future.
TAMS Solar Grants for Irish Farmers
And Government hasn’t forgotten farmers. TAMS is a scheme run by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) to provide financial support to farmers who want to improve the infrastructure and facilities on their farms. Through its Solar Capital Investment Scheme, TAMS funds the installation of renewable energy systems, including solar PV systems
Under TAMS, farmers can receive a solar grant for up to 60% of the cost of installing solar – up to a maximum of €90,000. The costs include the solar panels, inverters, wiring, and installation.
The important role that grants play in enabling the transition to renewables is not just theory. Across the pond in the UK, grants and subsidies for years encouraged homeowners to make the switch to solar. But when subsidies were wound down in 2016, installations of solar stalled. The new Labour government is now belatedly searching for ways to start a “rooftop revolution” like Ireland’s.
According to the International Solar Energy Society solar has the potential to generate more power than the world’s nuclear plants in 2026, than its wind turbines in 2027, than its hydroelectric dams in 2028, by gas-fired power plants in 2030, and coal-fired stations by 2032.
That’s why The Economist is running headlines like “the exponential growth of solar power will change the world”
Solar energy grants fuel that transition.
We plan to be part of the change – one roof at a time. You can, too.
Why Choose Solar In Ireland?
Investing in Irish solar panel systems can bring many benefits, including reduced energy bills, increased energy independence, and a reduced carbon footprint. If you are interested in installing a solar panel system in Ireland, it is also worth exploring the different grant options and green business loans available and seeking professional advice from one of our solar energy advisors.
Feel free to contact us for more information, we’re here to help.