If you have been holding off on solar because your home was too new to qualify, or because you were told battery storage had no grant support, both of those answers changed on 6 October 2026.
The Government announced a package of enhanced SEAI grants that widens eligibility for the Solar Electricity Grant and introduces a brand new grant for home battery storage. Here is what actually changed, and what it means for your home.
What changed on 6 October 2026
- Eligibility widened: your home now needs to have been built and occupied before 2025. The previous cut-off was 2021.
- New battery grant: a flat €600 grant for home battery storage systems of 5kWh or larger.
- Higher combined total: up to €2,400 when you claim both the solar PV and battery grants.
- Solar PV grant unchanged: still up to €1,800.
- Business and farm solar: the Non-Domestic Microgen Grant has been temporarily increased to 45% of eligible costs.
The new €600 battery grant explained
The Battery Energy Storage System Grant is a flat rate of €600. The key condition is size: the battery must be 5kWh or larger. Batteries smaller than 5kWh are not eligible.
This matters because a battery is what lets you actually use the electricity your panels generate. Solar produces most of its output in the middle of the day, while most households use electricity in the evening. Without storage, that daytime surplus goes to the grid and you buy electricity back later. A battery closes that gap.
As with the solar grant, you must wait for your grant offer from SEAI before the battery is installed, and the work must be carried out by an SEAI-registered Solar PV contractor.
Eligibility now extends to homes built before 2025
This is the change that affects the most people. Until October 2026, your home had to be built and occupied before 2021 to qualify. That cut-off has moved to before 2025.
In practice, four additional years of Irish homes became eligible overnight. If you enquired about solar in the last few years and were told your property was too new, that answer is now out of date and it is worth asking again.
The other eligibility conditions still apply:
- The property must have an MPRN.
- The grant is not open to homes that have already received funding for that same measure at that MPRN.
- All homeowners can apply, including private landlords, owner management companies and Approved Housing Bodies.
How much can you get?
The solar PV grant is paid pro rata based on the size of your system, so the €1,800 figure is a maximum rather than a flat payment.
| Measure | Grant value |
|---|---|
| Solar PV, first 2kWp | €700 per kWp (€1,400 for 2kWp) |
| Solar PV, each additional kWp up to 4kWp | €200 per kWp (€1,600 for 3kWp) |
| Solar PV maximum | €1,800 (4kWp and above) |
| Battery storage, 5kWh or larger | €600 flat rate |
| Maximum combined | €2,400 |
Enhanced grants of up to €9,000 for solar PV and battery are also available to homeowners in receipt of certain Department of Social Protection payments. If you think that may apply to you, check the current criteria on the SEAI website.
Already have solar panels? You can still claim the battery grant
You do not have to install solar and storage at the same time. If you are installing both together, you apply once and both measures are covered by a single application. If you already have panels, you can apply for the battery grant on its own at a later date, provided you meet the criteria and have not previously claimed a battery grant at that address.
For anyone who installed solar a few years ago and skipped storage at the time, this is a straightforward way to improve how much of your own generation you actually use.
What has not changed
These are the rules that cost people their grant every week, and none of them have been relaxed:
- Approval must be in place before works start. If the installation has already begun, the application cannot be accepted. There is no appeal.
- You must use an SEAI-registered contractor.
- A post-works BER assessment is required where solar PV is present, carried out by a registered BER assessor. No BER, no payment.
- You have 8 months from grant approval to complete the works and submit your documentation.
- Your installer must apply to ESB Networks before installing. That process usually takes at least 4 weeks, or 20 working days, so it needs to be built into your timeline.
There is no deadline on the domestic changes, so there is no need to rush. But the sequence matters, and the paperwork takes longer than the installation itself.
Business and farm solar: a temporary 45% rate
Alongside the domestic changes, the Non-Domestic Microgen Grant has been temporarily increased to 45% of eligible costs, up from roughly 23%. This increase applies for a limited nine-month period, which makes it considerably more time-sensitive than the domestic changes.
It is open to businesses, farms, schools, community centres, public sector bodies and non-profits. If you run a business or farm with significant daytime electricity use, this is worth looking at now rather than later. See our pages on commercial solar and agricultural solar.
Frequently asked questions
Has the solar panel grant been cut for 2027?
No. The Solar Electricity Grant remains at up to €1,800, and the October 2026 package increased support rather than reducing it.
Does my battery have to be installed with solar panels?
You can apply for the measures together or separately. If you apply separately, you must meet all applicable eligibility criteria at the time of application.
What size battery do I need to qualify?
The battery must be 5kWh or larger. Anything smaller is not eligible for the €600 grant.
My house was built in 2023. Do I qualify now?
Yes, provided it was built and occupied before 2025 and meets the other conditions. Under the old rules a 2023 home would not have qualified.
How long does the whole process take?
Longer than most people expect. Between the grant application, waiting for written approval, the ESB Networks connection application and scheduling, it is sensible to start well in advance of when you want the system running.
Not sure whether you qualify?
There is a good chance you do now, even if you did not a month ago. We are an Irish-owned, SEAI-registered installer based in Ashbourne, Co. Meath, covering Dublin, Meath, Kildare, Louth, Wicklow and across Leinster.
We will assess your roof and your usage and give you a straight answer, including if solar is not the right fit for your home. Get in touch for a free site survey, or read more about solar grants in Ireland.
Grant information correct at the time of publication, October 2026. Always confirm current rates and conditions on seai.ie before applying.
