Different grant scheme, different economics, and one advantage domestic customers do not have.
Commercial solar in Ireland runs under a different scheme to the domestic grant, with different limits and a different application process. The headline domestic figure of €1,800 does not apply to businesses, and the commercial rates are considerably higher.
The advantage businesses have
Most businesses consume electricity during daylight hours. That is precisely when solar generates. A factory, office, farm or shop running Monday to Friday during the day is close to the ideal consumption profile — far better matched than a typical home, where the household is out when generation peaks.
The practical consequence is that a business often uses a much higher proportion of what it generates directly, without needing storage to make the numbers work.
Roof space
Commercial buildings tend to have large, flat or shallow-pitched roofs with little shading. That usually means a bigger system, more straightforward mounting, and better economics per kWp installed than a domestic roof with dormers and chimneys to work around.
Where to start
With twelve months of electricity bills. Sizing a commercial system without consumption data is guesswork, and oversizing is the most common and most expensive mistake. Talk to us and we will tell you whether it is worth pursuing before anyone starts drawing up a proposal.