Now on SEAI's solar page
The Government approved this grant on 29 September, in the same package as the battery grant and the boiler scrappage grant:
SEAI, individual energy grants: "New €2,000 boiler scrappage scheme, a battery grant and enhanced supports for households at risk of energy poverty among measures approved by Government."
Until this week SEAI's solar page gave the headline figures only, and said the grant would come "effective from 6th October". By 8 October it read:
SEAI, solar electricity grant: "An enhanced grant of up to €9,000 for Solar PV (up to 4kWp) and battery (5kWh) systems is now available for eligible homeowners in receipt of certain Department of Social Protection payments."
and, for the first time, how the panel grant is worked out.
How much, by system size
The grant is paid per kWp, the size of the panels. The first 2 kWp pay far more than the rest:
SEAI, solar electricity grant: "€3,350 for each kWp up to 2kWp"
SEAI, solar electricity grant: "€850 for each additional kWp up to 4kWp"
SEAI, solar electricity grant: "Total solar PV grant capped at €8,400 without battery, or €9,000 with battery."
Set against the standard solar grant, from the same page:
| System | Standard grant | On one of the seven payments |
|---|---|---|
| 2 kWp | €1400 | €6,700 |
| 3 kWp | €1600 | €7,550 |
| 4 kWp | €1800 | €8,400 |
| 4 kWp and a battery | €2,400 | €9,000 |
For the standard grant SEAI says sizes in between are paid pro rata:
SEAI, solar electricity grant: "The grant is paid on a pro rate basis e.g. for a 2.5kWp system the grant value would be €1500."
It does not say the same in so many words for the welfare grant, so ask the company quoting you what a size between the examples would get.
The battery part is the same €600 the battery grant pays everyone:
SEAI, solar electricity grant: "€600 flat rate"
For a battery bought with solar panels, SEAI also says the VAT is 0%, against 23% for a battery on its own:
SEAI, battery grant FAQs: "if you are installing the battery at the same time as solar panels, there will be 0% VAT on the cost of the battery. If it is a standalone installation, there will be 23% VAT on top of that cost."
The seven payments
SEAI's 29 September announcement lists the payments it means:
- "Fuel Allowance as part of the National Fuel Scheme"
- "Job Seekers Allowance for over six months and have child under seven years of age"
- "Working Family Payment"
- "One-Parent Family Payment"
- "Domiciliary Care Allowance"
- "Carers Allowance and live with the person you are caring for"
- "Disability Allowance for over six months and have a child under seven years of age"
Two of them, Jobseeker's Allowance and Disability Allowance, come with conditions: six months on the payment and a child under seven. Fuel Allowance is the widest; Budget 2027 raised it. SEAI's solar page does not yet say how you show you are on the payment. Whether a grant is paid is SEAI's decision on the application.
New: Dublin homes let under the Rental Accommodation Scheme
By 10 October 2026 SEAI's solar page had added a pilot for homes let to a long-term tenant on a Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) payment through one of four Dublin councils:
SEAI, solar electricity grant: "Dublin City Council, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Fingal County Council and South Dublin County Council"
Those homes:
SEAI, solar electricity grant: "can receive a higher grant of up to €9,000 towards the installation of Solar PV and Battery in their home."
The council's letter comes before the application:
SEAI, solar electricity grant: "Before applying, you will need to obtain a letter from your Local Authority confirming that your long-term tenant is in receipt of a Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) payment and that the property qualifies for the higher grant amount."
The rest of the rules are the solar grant's
The house:
SEAI, solar electricity grant: "The house must have been built and occupied before 2025."
SEAI, solar electricity grant: "The grant is not open to homes with previous funding for solar PV at this MPRN."
The offer first, for the panels and the battery alike:
SEAI, homeowner application guide: "You must have grant approval in place before you start work."
SEAI, battery grant: "You must wait to receive a Grant Offer from SEAI before installing the battery."
Panels and a battery can go on one application:
SEAI, battery grant: "There is no need to submit separate applications for each measure."
A One Stop Shop can only take solar on as part of a bigger job:
SEAI, solar electricity grant: "You can only use a One Stop Shop for solar PV if you are getting multiple upgrades at once."
If you are on Fuel Allowance, look at Warmer Homes too
SEAI's free Warmer Homes Scheme, for homes on some of the same payments, now includes solar and a battery:
SEAI, enhanced grants announcement: "Solar PV and battery will be offered as standard under fully funded Warmer Homes Scheme."
The welfare solar grant is a grant you apply for and a company you choose; Warmer Homes is SEAI's own scheme, free, with a wait. The Warmer Homes Scheme sets out who it is for and how long it takes. The amount is the one in force when you apply:
SEAI, battery grant: "Applicants are eligible for the grant amounts that are in effect at the time of application"
If solar is one job of several, a check of your home puts them in order and adds up the standard grants for each one.