New micro generation electricity scheme

A pilot scheme has been launched to help householders generate electricity from solar panels and an increase in grant supports for home insulation has also been announced.
The new pilot micro generation electricity scheme will support the installation of solar PV panels on homes for the generation and self-consumption of renewable electricity. The systems will be grant aided and there will be additional grants available to those who install battery storage to capture the electricity they generate for use at a later date.
The new scheme will help homeowners reduce their ongoing electricity costs by allowing them to generate their own electricity. It is estimated that a family who spend €1,800 on a solar panel system for a typical three bedroom semi-detached house would save about €220 annually on electricity bills.
The pilot scheme will run for six months, after which it will be reviewed in terms of cost of installation and opportunities to broaden the scheme. The scheme will be funded by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
The grant is available for homes built and occupied before 2011 and details of eligibility criteria and how to apply are set out on the SEAI website at https://www.seai.ie/grants/home-grants/solar-pv/ A registered solar PV installer must be used and a full list of registered installers is also available on the SEAI website.
Increased grants for home insulation have also been announced. These relate the installation of attic insulation, cavity wall insulation and internal wall insulation. The grant aid available for attic insulation and cavity wall insulation has increased from €300 to €400 while the grants for internal wall insulation has increased from €1,200 to €1,600 for apartments and mid-terrace houses and from €1,800 to €2,200 for semi-detached and end-of-terrace houses.
Homeowners can apply for the grants online at www.seai.ie/homeenergygrants. Once approved, homeowners have six months to get the works completed by a registered contractor and claim the grant.