SEAI’s enhanced solar grant: up to €9,000 for panels and a battery
If you own and live in your home and receive Fuel Allowance or another qualifying payment, SEAI’s enhanced solar grant can be up to €9,000 towards solar panels and a battery. Here is who qualifies, in SEAI’s own words, and how to apply with us as your installer.
This is SEAI’s Enhanced Solar PV grant. It is a higher rate of the ordinary solar grant for homeowners on certain Department of Social Protection payments, not an extra payment on top of it. You apply to SEAI yourself, and you must have SEAI’s approval before any grant-aided work starts or materials are bought.
Who qualifies · How much · Our grant package · Our details for your application · The steps
Who qualifies
SEAI’s Solar PV Scheme Application Guide says you can apply for the higher grant if:
- You own and live in your home; and
- Your home was built and occupied before 2025; and
- Your home has not previously received SEAI grant support for the chosen home energy upgrade measure(s); and
- You are in receipt of one of the below Department of Social Protection qualifying payments
The qualifying payments SEAI lists
- 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
A few points from SEAI’s page that are easy to miss:
- The home needs an MPRN, and the grant is not open to homes with previous funding for solar PV at that MPRN.
- In most cases the payment has to be received by the homeowner. If another household member receives it, SEAI says the application would not meet the enhanced criteria. The one exception SEAI gives is Carer’s Allowance.
- If your payment is Jobseeker’s Allowance, Disability Allowance or Carer’s Allowance, SEAI asks for supporting documents with your application (a child’s birth certificate, or a Carer’s Allowance Confirmation Form).
- SEAI checks your payment directly with the Department of Social Protection. If you only recently started getting a qualifying payment, SEAI asks you to wait 5–6 weeks after your first payment before you apply.
- SEAI’s guide says you cannot apply for the higher grant if you have already bought materials or already started the grant-aided works.
Not sure? Tick “Not sure” on the form below and we’ll talk it through, or check SEAI’s page directly. SEAI also runs a separate, fully funded Warmer Homes route for some homes; it’s explained on SEAI’s page for people on these payments.
Dublin RAS rental homes
There is a separate Dublin pilot. If a long-term tenant receives a Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) payment through Dublin City Council, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Fingal County Council or South Dublin County Council, the landlord may be able to get the higher grant (up to €9,000 towards solar PV and a battery). That needs a letter from the local authority first.
How much is the enhanced grant?
SEAI pays this grant according to system size, on a pro rata basis. These are SEAI’s published rates, from SEAI’s solar electricity grant page, checked 10 Nov 2026:
| What | SEAI’s rate | SEAI’s examples |
|---|---|---|
| Solar PV panels | €3,350 for each kWp up to 2kWp €850 for each additional kWp up to 4kWp | €6,700 for 2kWp €7,550 for 3kWp €8,400 for 4kWp |
| Battery | 5kWh+: €600 flat rate |
“Total Enhanced Solar PV grant capped at €8,400 without battery, or €9,000 with battery.” (SEAI, checked 10 Nov 2026)
So the enhanced grant is up to €9,000 combined, depending on system size. VERIFY: SEAI gives no worked example for 4.7 kWp; rates stop at 4 kWp and cap at €8,400 The exact amount is the one in your SEAI Letter of Offer: SEAI says the grant is only payable for the measure, size of installation, named company and grant amount in that offer.
You don’t have to get a battery. Without one, SEAI caps the enhanced panel grant at €8,400.
OUR ENHANCED GRANT PACKAGE
4.7 kWp of solar panels + a 5.1 kWh battery
This is the system size we put forward for enhanced grant applications.
- 4.7 kWp of solar panels: above the 4kWp point where SEAI’s enhanced panel rates stop.
- A 5.1 kWh battery: above SEAI’s 5kWh minimum for the €600 battery grant.
- We check at a free, no-obligation site survey, at home or by video, that it suits your roof and your usage before anything is applied for.
- Your written quote names the kit, the price and the yearly expected generation.
Send us your details and we’ll check with you whether you qualify, then help you apply to SEAI with our details.
Our details for your SEAI application
SEAI asks for the name of your chosen Solar PV Company and the size of the system. If you choose us, this is what to use:
| Solar PV Company | Solar Works Electrical Contractors Ltd |
|---|---|
| SEAI registration number | 50427 VERIFY |
| Solar PV system size | 4.7 kWp |
| Battery size | 5.1 kWh |
| Phone | 087 760 3644 (call or WhatsApp) |
| info@solar-works.ie |
SEAI also asks for your own details: an email address, your address and Eircode, the IBAN and BIC of the bank account for the grant, your MPRN (the 11-digit number at the top of your electricity bill) and the year your house was built. Enter these on SEAI’s website only.
Apply on SEAI’s online portal Read SEAI’s grant page
SEAI’s online application portal is mgen.seai.ie. For a paper form, SEAI lists (01) 808 2004 or solarpv@seai.ie.
The steps, in the right order
- Check you qualifyUse SEAI’s list above, or send us the form and we’ll go through it with you.
- Free survey and written quoteWe confirm the 4.7 kWp + 5.1 kWh system suits your home and put the job in a written contract, as SEAI asks.
- You apply to SEAI and wait for approvalApply on SEAI’s portal with our details. Don’t buy anything or start any work until SEAI’s approval (your Letter of Offer) arrives.
- ESB NetworksWe submit the NC6 form to ESB Networks to register your system for connection. SEAI says this usually takes at least 4 weeks.
- Book your post-works BERSEAI needs a BER by an SEAI-registered BER assessor after the install. Book it once you have your install date.
- We installA typical home install takes one day, from arriving on site to switching on. SEAI gives you 8 months from approval to complete the works and paperwork.
- Paperwork to SEAIWe upload our documents to SEAI, including the Declaration of Works, certificates and the NC6, and your BER assessor publishes your BER.
- SEAI pays the grantSEAI pays it into the bank account nominated on your application. SEAI says to allow 4 to 6 weeks.
Grant rules can change. Amounts are the ones in effect when you create your application. We re-check SEAI’s current terms with you at quote stage.
Want us to talk you through it?
Book a free, no-obligation site survey, at home or by video. We’ll look at your roof and help with our side of the paperwork. The grant application itself is made on SEAI’s website.