The Smart Meter rollout has begun! and the new Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) scheme is on its way

October 8, 2021

Back in May 2021 we published a blog post on the much anticipated changes to the current pilot support scheme for domestic solar. The grant currently available from SEAI (up to €3000) towards the cost of installing a solar PV system continues to prove very popular. Further support is being provided by ESB Networks who have made the commitment to getting a smart meter installed in every home with solar PV within 4 months of notification. You will learn the significance of having a smart meter in your home throughout this article. On the other hand, a payment scheme for

VAT reduction on Solar Panels

April 2, 2023

National press reported Sunday that the government intends to reduce VAT on the sale and installation of solar panels. VAT is currently charged at a rate of 13.5%. This saving will reduce the time it will take to recover the costs of your solar panel installation. Press coverage reports that this will reduce payback time from 7 years to 6 years. While if true, this news is welcome, after many years of lobbying, an official announcement from government clarifying the details of when and how the change will take affect has not been made. Will the reduction only be for

Is it worth getting a battery with solar panels?

March 1, 2023

First of all, it is important to say you do not need to have a battery with your solar panels . It will work perfectly well without them. If you do not have batteries as part of your solar panel system, you also can get away with a normal inverter and not a hybrid inverter that is required if you have batteries. Obviously if you do not have a battery connected to your PV system then any power your panels generate but you do not use immediately in your home will go straight to the grid. This is less of

What is a Solar Panel Inverter

October 11, 2022

Solar panels generate DC electricity. DC stands for Direct Current. The electric grid uses AC electricity. AC here stands for Alternative Current. Your inverter converts the DC electricity from your solar panels to AC electricity. Modern solar panel inverters do a lot more than just convert DC to AC, they also monitor and report on the performance of your solar panels. If you are using an app to monitor the performance of your solar panels, then that information is coming from your inverter. Another function of inverters is to disconnect your solar panel system from the grid in the event

Are solar panels recyclable?

September 20, 2022

With the massive growth in generating solar power using solar panels many are wondering if we are creating a big problem for the future. What are we going to do with all those solar panels when they reach their end of life. Well, the good news is that solar panels are recyclable. Solar panels typically last for 20 – 25 years and so most panels in use now will not be hitting the recycle bins for many years yet. When they do it is estimated that by 2050 recycled panels will release about 2 billion dollars’ worth of material for

Is my roof suitable for Solar Panels?

August 15, 2022

Solar panels collect solar radiation directly from the sun, from the sky, and from sunlight reflected off the ground or area surrounding the PV panel. Orienting the PV panel in a direction and tilt to maximize its exposure to direct sunlight will optimize the collection efficiency. Here we discuss the issues you need to consider when looking at your roof from the perspective of installing solar panels. Orientation of your roof The orientation of your roof has a significant affect on how productive your solar panels will be. You would think that having a south facing roof would produce the

SEAI Grants 2022: Solar Panel Grant Ireland | A bittersweet update from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland

February 14, 2022

A bittersweet update from Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) as we move into a new phase of domestic solar PV. Back in October 2021, we published a blog post on the highly anticipated changes to the SEAI grants reportedly coming into affect in 2022. If you haven’t read this post, we strongly recommend you take the time to do so. You will learn about the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) scheme set to be introduced this year; with the primary objective of compensating homeowners for the clean energy they produce and subsequently export back to the grid. These payments are

Are solar panels worth it in Ireland?

October 12, 2021

Are solar panels worth it in Ireland? It’s a frequently asked question. Considering a solar panel in the south of Spain receives over twice the solar irradiance we do here in Ireland: How much do you need for it to be a worthwhile investment? The short answer is that most homes in Ireland do receive enough solar energy – light is sufficient, it doesn’t need to be direct sunlight – to make it a worthwhile investment. And that’s before the environmental benefits are factored in. For the longer answer, please read on… How much electricity will solar panels generate? This

Creating Wealth for Irish Energy Citizens

October 12, 2021

I’ve just finished listening to a new episode of the excellent Five Degrees of Change podcast by Daniel Murray at the Business Post. For those not familiar with the format, an expert in climate, energy and environment is invited to outline three policy proposals and two personal changes they believe would make for a cleaner, greener world. A recent guest was Mark Foley, CEO of Eirgrid. We’re lucky to have someone of Mark’s calibre overseeing one of, if not the most important piece of infrastructure in the country. The analogy of the road system that Mark uses to illustrate Eirgrid’s remit is helpful, but possibly understates the importance of the work – the morning congestion on the M7 is not an option for any electricity grid. That said, I’d like to explore a point

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