💶 Solar Calculator

Solar Panel Calculator Ireland

Estimate your savings, SEAI grant and payback period

Solar investment estimator

2026 SEAI grant · CEG export rates · national averages

€150
Figures are based on total electricity consumption for a standard Irish home. Your bill already reflects your usage — whether you have an EV, heat pump, or high household demand.
Include battery storage
Adds ~€3,000–€5,000 · no SEAI grant for batteries
Estimated system size—
Gross installation cost—
SEAI grant (2026)—
Net investment—
Annual bill savings
—
CEG export income
—
0 yrs — yrs 15 yrs

Estimates only — actual results vary. Roof orientation, pitch, shading and location all affect output. South-facing roofs at 30–40° typically perform best; east/west-facing roofs produce around 80% of that. Always get a quote from an SEAI-registered installer before making any financial decision. All figures assume 0% VAT and 2026 SEAI grant caps.

How the solar calculator works

The figures shown in the estimator are based on your monthly electricity bill as a proxy for your total electricity consumption. Here is exactly how each number is calculated — using a €250/month bill as an example throughout.

Step 1 — System size: Monthly bill ÷ 36 = kWp needed  →  €250 ÷ 36 = 6.9 kWp
Step 2 — Gross cost: kWp × €1,800 per kWp  →  6.9 × €1,800 = €12,420
Step 3 — SEAI grant: €700/kWp for first 2kWp + €200/kWp up to 4kWp, capped at €1,800
Step 4 — Net investment: Gross cost − grant  →  €12,420 − €1,800 = €10,620
Step 5 — Annual returns: Bill savings + CEG export income  →  €1,101 + €826 = €1,927/yr
Step 6 — Payback: Net investment ÷ annual returns  →  €10,620 ÷ €1,927 = 5.5 years
System sizing
Why divide by 36?
A rough rule of thumb used by Irish installers: every €35–€40 of monthly electricity spend equates to approximately 1 kWp of solar needed to meaningfully offset it. We use €36 as the midpoint. A €250 bill suggests a 6.9 kWp system.
Installation cost
€1,800 per kWp
This reflects the mid-market installed price for quality components in Ireland in 2026, including labour, inverter, and mounting. Prices vary — budget installers may quote less; premium systems with microinverters will cost more. All figures assume 0% VAT.
Bill savings — €1,101/yr
Self-consumed solar
A standard home self-consumes around 40% of what its panels generate. We estimate annual generation at 950 kWh per kWp. So 6.9 kWp × 950 × 40% = 2,622 kWh used directly. At the national average rate of 42c/kWh, that's €1,101 saved annually.
CEG export — €826/yr
Clean Export Guarantee
The remaining 60% of generation (3,933 kWh) is exported to the grid. Under the Clean Export Guarantee, suppliers pay around 21c/kWh for exported electricity. That gives 3,933 × €0.21 = €826 in annual export income on top of bill savings.

Assumptions used in this estimate

Sizing formulaMonthly bill ÷ 36 = kWp
Cost per kWp installed€1,800 (incl. labour, 0% VAT)
Annual generation per kWp950 kWh (Irish average)
Self-consumption rate40% (standard home, no battery)
Electricity unit rate42c/kWh (national smart meter average)
CEG export rate21c/kWh (mid-market 2026)
SEAI grantUp to €1,800 (2026 cap)
VAT on solar panels & installation0% (since May 2023)
Battery storage (when toggled on)€4,000 flat estimate, no grant

These figures are estimates based on national averages and standard assumptions. Your actual savings will depend on roof orientation, shading, local solar irradiance, how much electricity you use during daylight hours, and the components chosen by your installer. South-facing roofs at 30–40° will outperform east or west-facing roofs. Homes in the south of Ireland receive more solar energy than those in the north and west. Always get a detailed quote and projection from an SEAI-registered installer before making any financial decision.