Energy and insulation

Solar panels

Solar PV on a roof, with the inverter and the connection to the house supply.

Whether this needs a licence in Ireland

Ireland

Licence required

Registered Electrical Contractor (Safe Electric)

Registered Electrical Contractor (Safe Electric), issued or supervised by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities. Ask for the registration number before the work starts and check it on the public register. Check the register: www.safeelectric.ie

Wording approved by Talqero; not yet reviewed by a solicitor

Commission for Regulation of Utilitieswww.safeelectric.ieChecked 11/10/2026

Solar panels: what the job involves

Fitting solar photovoltaic panels on the roof (or on the ground nearby), with an inverter, often a battery, and a connection to the house supply, so the home makes some of its own electricity and can sell the surplus to its supplier. A registered electrician must connect it and ESB Networks must be told.

Also asked for as: solar PV · solar panel grant · solar panels with battery · solar installer · SEAI solar grant

How the job is usually done

Check roof orientation, pitch, shading and the condition of the roof, and the space for an inverter and battery.
Agree the system size from the household’s electricity use and the roof space, and apply for the grant before work starts.
Erect scaffolding or edge protection and fix the mounting rails to the rafters through weather-sealed brackets.
Mount the panels and run the cables to the inverter, usually in the attic, garage or hot press.
A Registered Electrical Contractor connects the inverter and battery to the fuse board and certifies the work.
Submit the NC6 micro-generation notification to ESB Networks and set up the inverter app.
Show the household how to read the system, and how to arrange payment for exported electricity with their supplier.

Solar panels: what is included

Usually included

Panels, mounting system, inverter and cabling
Scaffolding or roof access equipment
Electrical connection, testing and Completion Certificate
The NC6 notification to ESB Networks
Commissioning and the monitoring app

Usually not included — agree it separately

Roof repairs found while fitting, such as broken tiles or slates
A fuse board upgrade, if the old board is unsuitable
A battery, an immersion diverter or an EV charger, unless quoted
The post-works BER, unless agreed

Materials and who supplies them

Solar panels, inverter and optional battery, supplied by the installer
Roof mounting rails and hooks suited to the roof covering
DC and AC cabling, isolators and protection
An immersion diverter, if chosen

How long it takes

Usually one to two days on site; longer for a split array across two roofs, a battery in an awkward place or a fuse board change.

When to book

Panels can go up any time of year, but booking in winter or early spring has them producing for the long summer days.

Solar panels: the rules in Ireland

What the official sources say, checked against them on the date shown. A summary, not legal advice — follow the link to read the rule itself.

Connecting solar panels, an inverter or a battery to the house wiring is Restricted Electrical Works for a Registered Electrical Contractor, who must issue a Completion Certificate.
Applies to: the installer
Safe Electric Ireland, for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities · safeelectric.ie · Checked 9 October 2026
A micro-generator up to 6 kVA single phase (11 kVA three phase) is connected under ESB Networks’ inform-and-fit process using the NC6 form, with an inverter type-tested to I.S. EN 50549-1.
Applies to: the installer and the homeowner
ESB Networks · esbnetworks.ie · Checked 9 October 2026
Rooftop solar panels on a house are exempt from planning permission without an area limit, subject to conditions; protected structures, Architectural Conservation Areas and solar safeguarding zones have stricter limits.
Applies to: the homeowner
Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 3) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 493 of 2022) · irishstatutebook.ie · Checked 9 October 2026
Since 1 May 2023 the supply and installation of solar panels on or beside a private dwelling is zero-rated for VAT, when one business supplies and installs them in the same contract.
Applies to: the installer
Revenue · revenue.ie · Checked 9 October 2026
For the grant, the work must be done by a contractor on SEAI’s register for that measure, and only after the grant offer is accepted — work started before approval is not grant-aided.
Applies to: the homeowner and the contractor
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland · hes.seai.ie · Checked 9 October 2026

Grants

SEAI solar electricity grant
€700 per kWp up to 2 kWp, then €200 for each additional kWp up to 4 kWp, to a maximum of €1,800; a battery of 5 kWh or more adds €600, so panels and a battery together are up to €2,400.
Who qualifies: Owners of homes built and occupied before 2025, using an SEAI-registered installer, with approval before work starts and a BER afterwards.
seai.ie · Checked 9 October 2026
Clean Export Guarantee
Electricity suppliers pay micro-generators for the electricity they export to the grid, at a rate each supplier sets.
Who qualifies: Households with a registered micro-generation installation and a smart meter, through their own supplier.
cru.ie · Checked 9 October 2026

What solar panels costs, and why

What jobs on Talqero came to

Not enough comparable jobs yet to publish a range here. Talqero shows a price range only once at least five comparable jobs, agreed prices or offers exist — a range from fewer would describe a handful of jobs, not the market. Post your job and compare the offers you get.

What affects the price

System size in kWp and the number of panels
A battery, and its capacity
Roof type, height and access, and whether scaffolding is needed
Cable run from the roof to the inverter and fuse board
Condition of the existing fuse board
Extras: immersion diverter, EV charger readiness, bird mesh
VAT: building work on a home is charged at the reduced rate of 13.5% by a VAT-registered business — unless the materials come to more than two-thirds of the price, when Revenue’s two-thirds rule applies the goods rate to the whole job. Ask whether a quote includes VAT.

Paperwork to ask for at the end

The electrician’s Completion Certificate
A copy of the NC6 form sent to ESB Networks
Panel, inverter and battery warranties and the installer’s workmanship warranty
A system layout and the inverter settings
The SEAI declaration of works and a post-works BER for the grant

Safety

Roof work needs scaffolding or proper edge protection; nobody should be on a roof with only a ladder.
Panels produce DC voltage whenever there is daylight, even with the mains off, so only the installer should touch the cabling.
Batteries should be installed where the manufacturer allows, away from sleeping areas and escape routes, with the clearances it specifies.

Solar panels: before you hire

Questions to ask a tradesperson

Are you on SEAI’s register for solar PV?
Will a registered electrician connect it and give me a Completion Certificate?
Will you send the NC6 form to ESB Networks?
What warranties come with the panels, inverter, battery and the workmanship?
How did you size the system for my use?

What you can do yourself

Not a DIY job: the connection is Restricted Electrical Works for a registered electrician, and roof work needs proper access equipment.

What to put in your task

Which way does the main roof face?
What is the roof covered with?
How many storeys is the house?
Do you want a battery as well?
Roughly how much electricity do you use a year (from your bill)?
Are you applying for the SEAI solar grant?

Photos that help

Each roof slope that could take panels, from the ground
Trees, chimneys or buildings that shade the roof
The fuse board with its cover on
Where the inverter and battery could go
A recent electricity bill showing annual use (with personal details hidden)

Energy and insulation

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Questions about solar panels

Does solar panels need a licence in Ireland?

Yes. Registered Electrical Contractor (Safe Electric), supervised by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities. Source: www.safeelectric.ie. Ask for the registration number and check it on the public register. Wording approved by Talqero; not yet reviewed by a solicitor.

Do I need planning permission for solar panels?

Usually not on a house. Since the 2022 exempted development rules, rooftop panels have no area limit on houses, subject to conditions. Protected structures, Architectural Conservation Areas and homes near airports or hospitals with helipads have stricter limits, so check with the council.

Is there VAT on solar panels?

No, when one business supplies and installs them on or beside a private home: Revenue zero-rated that supply from 1 May 2023. Buying panels yourself and paying somebody only to fit them does not get the zero rate.

Can I get paid for the electricity I export?

Yes. Under the Clean Export Guarantee your supplier pays for exported units at a rate it sets, once the installation is registered through the NC6 form and you have a smart meter.

Do the panels work on cloudy days?

Yes, at a lower output. In Ireland most of a year’s production comes from April to September, which is why a diverter to the immersion or a battery helps use more of it at home.

Often booked with solar panels

Insulation installers