Solar panel calculator for Irish homes
Estimate what solar panels would cost on your house, what you'd save each year after the SEAI grant, and how long they take to pay for themselves. Move the slider to your annual electricity spend — everything updates as you go.
Your home
Roughly €150 a month. The Irish average is about €1,800 a year.
Not sure? South is the safe default — east/west roofs generate about 15% less.
Pays for itself in
3.3 years
A 4 kWp system (10 panels) generating about 3,600 kWh a year — roughly 51% off your bill.
- Install cost
- €4,800
- SEAI grant
- − €1,800
- You pay
- €3,000
- Saved per year
- €909
Costs calibrated against 30 real Irish prices we've collected. An estimate, not a quote — get three quotes before deciding.
How this estimate is worked out
No two roofs are the same, so treat this as a starting point rather than a quote. Here's exactly what sits behind the numbers:
- Your usage is inferred from your annual bill at about 0.35 €/kWh, after taking off a typical €250 standing charge.
- Generation assumes 900 kWh per kWp per year on a south-facing Irish roof, adjusted for the direction your roof faces and for how sunny your county is.
- Savings count electricity you don't buy (about 35% of what you generate without a battery, 70% with one) plus export payments of about 0.20 €/kWh for the surplus.
- The grant follows the 2026 SEAI rates — €700/kWp for the first 2 kWp, €200/kWp up to 4 kWp, capped at €1,800.
- System size is picked to match your usage, capped at the 2–8 kWp range typical for Irish homes.
Figures reviewed July 2026. Electricity prices and export rates move — and this model assumes they hold steady, so a rising unit rate would shorten your payback.
Common questions
Are solar panels worth it in Ireland?
For most Irish homes, yes. A typical 4 kWp system costs around €8,000 before the SEAI grant of €1,800, so about €6,200 to you, and saves roughly €900 a year through a lower bill plus export payments — paying for itself in about 7 years against a panel lifetime of 25 years. Homes with high daytime electricity use and a south-facing roof do best.
How much do solar panels cost in Ireland in 2026?
A typical domestic system runs about €7,000 to €11,000 installed for 4 to 5 kWp, before the SEAI grant. Adding a 5 kWh battery costs roughly €3,500 more and does not qualify for a grant. Prices vary by roof complexity, so get at least three quotes.
How long do solar panels take to pay for themselves in Ireland?
Typically 6 to 8 years for a panels-only system after the SEAI grant — about 7 years for an average home on a €1,800 annual bill. Adding a battery increases the upfront cost without a grant, so it lengthens payback to around 9 years even though it raises annual savings.
How much electricity will solar panels generate in Ireland?
About 900 kWh per kWp per year on a south-facing Irish roof. So a 4 kWp system generates roughly 3,600 kWh annually. East or west-facing roofs generate about 15 percent less, and the sunnier south-east generates several percent more than the north-west.
Ready for real numbers?
Only an installer who has seen your roof can give you a firm price, and only SEAI-registered installers can claim the grant on your behalf. Compare them by county, the brands they fit and their Google ratings.