100,000 IRISH ROOFTOPS HAVE SOLAR. WHY NOT YOURS?
Updated August 23, 2024
By Morgan Pierce
“…Imagine a time when every rooftop in the world has a solar panel on it. Looking at Google Earth, all the rooftops you see would have panels. Panels would provide power or heat, or both. I am calling this vision “no rooftop left behind” …. Let’s adopt this phrase into our common lexicon. Let’s make this a rallying call for the future of our planet …”
That was the call to arms of Dr. Eric Martinot of the World Council for Renewable Energy back in 2014.
Through a “powerful” combination of important initiatives – including a government-backed €2,100 grant for installing solar, the elimination of VAT on solar panels, and low-interest rate green loans for homeowners – Ireland has taken up to the challenge.
The transformation has been so rapid and so profound that last year the Irish government raised its target for the amount of electricity Irish solar would contribute to overall energy production by 2030 – from 2.5 GW to 8 GW.
ESB Networks says that they are currently connecting 750 new solar installations to the Grid each week.
It’s excellent news, but it’s also critical. Irish solar is the renewable energy source best-placed to speed Ireland’s transition to a more sustainable future.
That’s especially important because recent analysis by the Environmental Protection Agency shows that without increasing the pace of change, the country will fall far short of its target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 51 per cent by 2030.
“The transition to a low carbon society is building momentum in Ireland. We see this with more electric vehicles on our roads, renewable electricity powering our homes and adoption of new farm practices” said Laura Burke, Director General of the EPA. “However, we need to speed up and scale up the transition”.
The Irish solar industry is taking the challenge seriously, and so is SolarSmart.
We all recognize that an industry growing at the pace that solar energy has done, needs to safeguard its standards to protect customers and to continue to grow. In the words of one of my colleagues, “We cannot afford any slip ups.”
Under the auspices of the Irish Solar Energy Association (ISEA), SolarSmart and several other leading Irish solar firms have come together to form a “Solar Rooftop Standards” working group. Our head of PV engineering, Darren Doyle, is one of the members of the working group.
According to Kieran Larkin of Pinergy, who heads the working group, cooperation among these industry leaders – who are in most ways competitors – has been “top notch”. All of those involved are volunteering their time above and beyond their regular work hours – a commitment that shows they aren’t just paying lip service to the importance of safely accelerating Ireland’s transition to a renewables-based economy.
Even in the short time the working group has been in existence, it’s already had a positive impact. Members contributed to the Sustainable Energy Authority’s “A Homeowner’s Guide to Solar” The guide is the regulator’s primary resource for educating consumers about the costs and benefits of going solar. (If you haven’t read it, we recommend doing so. It will arm you with all the right questions to ask of any potential installer.)
To be eligible for one of the SEAI’s grants, homeowners must buy from one of its registered installers. SolarSmart and our colleagues in the working group are all registered with the SEAI. Not only that, the working group has also made recommendations to the SEAI’s “Code of Practice for Installers”, so that the expertise of those of us doing the work every day can help inform regulators.
Taking Irish solar to the next step
We’re determined to grow the Irish solar industry and we know that the best way to do that is to continue to work with regulators to ensure the highest possible quality and safety standards.
SolarSmart and our colleagues in the ISEA “Rooftop Standards Working Group” are working together toward the following goals:
* more stringent requirements to become an SEAI registered installer
* more independent inspections of installations
* ensure compliance with all workplace and on-site Health and Safety Authority guidelines
* establish a tiered system of accreditation for installers – so that customers can readily identify those with particular expertise for “best in class” service
The reputable players in the field want Irish homeowners to “know what good looks like”.
At SolarSmart we aim to meet that standard with every single installation.
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.