Great news for homeowners across Ireland: solar PV grant support is set to be extended to newer homes as part of the reported Budget 2027 plans.
Under the changes announced by Government, the eligibility for the SEAI Solar PV grant will be extended to houses built and occupied before 2025. The changes are due to take effect from 6 October 2026. The existing Solar PV grant of up to €1,800 will continue to apply to eligible homes.
This is an important change for many homeowners who had previously been excluded from the grant simply because their home was built or connected to the grid after the previous cut-off.
A Change That Has Been Long Called For
The extension of the grant is particularly significant for Ciaran Kells, Managing Director of Eco Horizon and Chairperson of the Micro-Renewable Energy Federation (MREF).
Ciaran and MREF have been raising the issue of newer homes being excluded from solar PV grants with Government and calling for the rules to be changed.
In April, MREF called on Government to amend the rules preventing owners of newer homes and businesses that connected to the grid since 2021 from accessing SEAI grants.
The issue was also included in MREF’s Pre-Budget 2027 Submission, which called for the construction-date cut-off to be removed and for more homeowners to be able to access support for micro-generation.
More recently, Ciaran continued to raise the issue through media interviews and discussions with Government and SEAI.
Ciaran Kells Speaking About Solar Grants
Ciaran has been using his position with MREF to highlight the importance of making solar more accessible to Irish homeowners.
In radio interviews, including with Newstalk Breakfast and South East Radio, he discussed the restrictions affecting newer homes and the need for changes to Government support.
Ciaran Kells on Newstalk Breakfast
In this interview, Ciaran talks about why newer homes should be able to access solar grants and why greater support for battery storage is important as more Irish homes generate their own electricity.
Ciaran Kells on South East Radio
Ciaran also spoke with South East Radio about solar energy and the changes needed to encourage more homeowners to invest in renewable energy.
Battery Support Also Included
Alongside the extension of solar PV grant eligibility, the Government has also announced the introduction of support for home battery energy storage systems.
Battery support was another issue that Ciaran and MREF had been calling for as part of their work to improve support for micro-generation in Ireland. MREF specifically included battery storage support in its Pre-Budget 2027 submission.
We have already shared more information about the new battery support, but its inclusion alongside the changes to solar PV grants is another significant development for Irish homeowners.
A Positive Development for Newer Homes
For homeowners in newer properties, the extension of the Solar PV grant means that the construction date of their home will no longer exclude them from support if they meet the new eligibility requirements.
At Eco Horizon, we welcome the announcement and are pleased to see the concerns Ciaran Kells has been raising through his work with the Micro-Renewable Energy Federation now being addressed.
The new measures will give more Irish homeowners the opportunity to consider solar PV and, where suitable, battery storage as part of their home energy system.
If you’re considering solar for your home, get in touch with Eco Horizon for advice and a free, no-obligation quote.
