Astrid Madsen
The grant that subsidises photovoltaic (PV) panels is to drop by €300 every year starting in 2024, the ROI government has confirmed.
- What changes to the grant system are coming down the line
- Will the one-stop shop grants be affected?
- What grants are available and how to apply
- How many people took up the grant
- How successful the scheme has been to date
The domestic solar photovoltaic (PV) grant will fall by €300, reducing the maximum allowance from €2,400 to €2,100 as administered by the Department of Environment’s government body, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
The maximum grant allowance for PV is currently for around 10 panels, at 400W to 430W each, or more and is capped at €2,400. The grant to install a battery was axed two years ago.
A spokesperson for the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications said the Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) was approved in December 2021 to support 380MW of new microgeneration capacity by 2030 under the Climate Action Plan.
For 2022 and 2023 the Department estimates approximately 150 MW of installed capacity will have been supported, describing the grant scheme as successful.
The spokesperson said the reduction in grant amounts “was made clear when the scheme was launched”.
“The maximum grant levels were always designed to remain at €2,400 for 2022 and 2023, and then to reduce by up to €300 for each subsequent year, until it is anticipated that no grant support will be required from 2029 onwards,” the spokesperson said.
According to the same source, the SEAI supported 10,017 households under the Domestic Solar PV scheme in 2022 and estimates that it will support over 22,000 households in 2023. In 2023, there have been 21,488 applications made to the scheme to the end of October. ESB Networks reports that there are now over 75,000 registered microgenerators across Ireland.
One stop shop
However, it is still unclear whether the One Stop Shop grants will be affected.
“The continued eligibility for solar PV under the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme following the phase out of the Microgeneration Support Scheme is a matter which will be kept under review by the Department and SEAI over the coming years,” a spokesperson for the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications told Selfbuild.
SEAI registered One-Stop-Shops providers offer an end-to-end service for homeowners. This includes surveying; designing the upgrades; managing the grant process; helping with access to finance; engaging contractors; and quality assurance.
The One Stop Shop grant requires that you upgrade the energy efficiency of your entire home in what’s often referred to as a deep retrofit. (A shallow retrofit refers to individual upgrades done on a piecemeal basis.)
Under the Scheme, grants are available for home energy assessments; heat pumps; wall and roof insulation; PV; windows and doors; ventilation systems; project management; as well as a launch bonus.
English