Minister for Climate Darragh O’Brien’s decision not to cut the rate of grant aid offered to householders for rooftop solar has been welcomed by the renewable energy sector.

Minister O’Brien has said that the Sustainable Energy Authority Of Ireland (SEAI) grants available to homeowners at a rate of €1,800 will not be cut to €1,500 from 2026 onwards.

SEAI's SEAI Solar PV Scheme pays out €700/kWp up to 2kWp and €200 for every additional kWp up to 4kWp subject to a €1,800 cap.

The Micro-Renewable Energy Federation’s chair Ciaran Kells stated that the grant is a “crucial” means of supporting households’ installation of rooftop solar.

“This is a positive decision for homeowners up and down the country that are actively planning to invest in solar PV in the coming months,” Kells said.

“The Minister needs to build on this positive move by removing the restriction on anyone who has a home or business premises built after 2020 who are prevented from getting this grant support.”

Solar Ireland’s CEO Ronan Power heralded the decision as “simple, sensible and hugely positive”.

“Keeping the grant at €1,800 for 2026 will help thousands more families cut their energy bills and their emissions, while ensuring installations stay within SEAI’s strong regulatory and quality framework,” Power said.