The Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy has confirmed that the maximum grant available for home rooftop solar panels will stay at €1,800 next year.
Darragh O’Brien clarified that the previously planned reduction to €1,500 will not go ahead.
Speaking to RTÉ News at the COP30 climate conference in Belém, Brazil, Mr O’Brien said there is a “solar revolution” happening in Ireland, and he wants to ensure that momentum continues.
According to the minister, almost one gigawatt of power is now being generated from rooftops across the country—including farm buildings—which is approaching the output of Ireland’s solar farms. He added that the solar farm sector itself is also expanding rapidly.
Last year, there were 28,000 applications for rooftop solar grants, and that figure is expected to rise to around 33,000 in 2025 when farm buildings are included. To date, 155,000 homes in Ireland have solar panels installed.
Under the original plan, the rooftop solar grant was set to decrease by €300 each year until being phased out entirely, which would have brought the 2026 maximum to €1,500. Instead, the grant will remain at €1,800 through 2026.
The solar industry has welcomed the minister’s decision to reverse the planned cut. Solar Ireland CEO Ronan Power said: “Keeping the rooftop solar grant at €1,800 for 2026 is a smart and fair decision. It ensures solar remains within reach for households, particularly those most exposed to high energy costs, while keeping installations under SEAI’s strong regulatory and quality framework. This move supports families today and sustains the momentum behind one of Ireland’s fastest-growing clean-energy sectors.”
The Micro Renewable Energy Federation also welcomed the news. Chairperson Ciarán Kells described it as a crucial update from Minister O’Brien, saying: “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.”
Mr Kells highlighted that the announcement brings reassurance not only to homeowners but also to the thousands of skilled installers working in Ireland’s growing micro-generation sector. He added that the minister should build on this progress by removing the restriction preventing homes and business premises built after 2020 from accessing the grant.
This 2020 cut-off point, he said, unfairly affects households and businesses—particularly newer homeowners facing high living and energy costs—who would benefit significantly from the support.
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