Thousands of newer homes across Ireland are set to become eligible for solar energy grants following an expansion of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) support scheme.

From 6 October 2026, eligibility for the Solar PV grant will be extended to homes that were built and occupied before 2025.

Previously, the scheme generally required a property to have been built and occupied before 2021.

More Homes Can Now Access Solar Grants

The change means homeowners whose properties were built between 2021 and the end of 2024 may now qualify for financial support towards installing solar photovoltaic panels.

The Government announced the expansion as part of a wider package of measures aimed at reducing household energy costs, improving energy efficiency and reducing Ireland's dependence on fossil fuels.

Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O'Brien announced the measures on 29 September 2026 following work by the National Energy Affordability Taskforce.

The expanded eligibility rules take effect from 6 October 2026.

Solar PV Grant Remains at Up to €1,800

The value of the standard domestic Solar PV grant remains unchanged.

Eligible homeowners can receive:

• €700 per kWp for the first 2 kWp of installed solar PV capacity
• €200 per additional kWp up to 4 kWp
• A maximum Solar PV grant of €1,800

Solar photovoltaic panels generate electricity from sunlight, helping households reduce the amount of electricity they need to purchase from the grid.

According to the Government's announcement, the combination of a 4 kWp solar PV system and battery storage could provide household energy savings of up to approximately €878 per year, depending on the property, system and household energy use.

Why Has the Eligibility Rule Changed?

Until now, newer homes have largely been excluded from the grant because modern building regulations require higher levels of energy efficiency and renewable-energy performance in newly constructed properties.

However, not every newer home was built with solar PV.

Government analysis indicates that homes built between 2020 and 2025 have been less likely to install solar PV than some earlier properties, partly because builders have increasingly used technologies such as heat pumps to meet renewable-energy requirements.

Extending the grant cut-off therefore gives more homeowners the opportunity to add solar PV after their homes have been completed.

Part of a Wider Package of Energy Supports

The expanded solar eligibility forms part of a broader package of renewable-energy and retrofit measures announced by the Government.

Other measures include a new €600 home battery grant, enhanced solar and battery support for qualifying lower-income households, additional assistance through the Warmer Homes Scheme and a €2,000 fossil-fuel boiler scrappage scheme for eligible households.

Solar PV and battery systems of up to 4 kWp and 5 kWh respectively are also set to be fully funded for qualifying households under the Warmer Homes Scheme.

Who Could Now Qualify?

From 6 October 2026, homeowners should potentially be eligible for the standard Solar PV scheme where their home:

• Was built and occupied before 2025
• Has an electricity Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN)
• Has not previously received SEAI Solar PV grant support for the same property
• Meets the other conditions of the SEAI scheme

Applicants should obtain grant approval before beginning installation work.

Homeowners considering an installation should also check the latest SEAI terms and conditions before entering into a contract with an installer, as detailed eligibility and application requirements may be updated as the expanded measures are implemented.

A Significant Expansion for Irish Homeowners

The move from a pre-2021 to a pre-2025 eligibility cut-off significantly increases the number of Irish homes that can potentially access State support for solar PV.

For homeowners who purchased or built properties during the early 2020s without solar panels, the change could reduce the upfront cost of installing a renewable electricity system.

With electricity costs and energy security continuing to be important issues for households, the expansion is intended to make solar PV more accessible to a broader section of the housing market.

The new eligibility rules for Solar PV grants take effect on 6 October 2026.