Over €200,000 awarded to Clare homes for solar panels in recent weeks

New data has revealed that 100 homes installed solar panels in Co Clare in the month of January with grant support – the sixth highest number in Ireland.

January saw an incredible €208,750 in grants awarded under the SEAI’s Solar PV Scheme to Clare households, with €4.6 million dished out to homes nationally for solar panels.

By comparison, in the first three months of 2024, 221 solar installations were fitted in Co Clare with SEAI grant support.

Across the country, there were 2,324 new solar installations in January, with the highest number recorded in Dublin (433), followed by Cork (264) and then Limerick (159). 

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After the home solar grant was reduced by €300 at the beginning of 2025, solar energy expert Briain Kelly of EnergyEfficiency.ie has warned of the potential negative impact these reductions could have on the adoption of solar PV.

Speaking on this, Brian said, “There are different grants available for solar, but the most well-known is the Solar PV Scheme which currently offers homeowners up to €1,800 for rooftop panels. Just two years ago, this grant scheme awarded a maximum of €2,400 – and it is the currently the only programme under threat as it continues to be reduced by €300 each year,

“The reason the government has given for this is the declining cost of solar PV installations – a trend which they evidently expect to continue. However, this goes against common sense given Ireland’s target of generating 80% of electricity from renewables by 2030 – and it also ignores the potentially significant psychological benefits of grants on solar adoption numbers," he added.