More Laois householders are going solar latest report finds

More households in Laois are going solar to cut energy bills, and taking advantage of Government grants to do so.

There was a 159% increase in the number of domestic installations in Laois this year, compared to last year.

In all, 70 Laois homes purchased solar panels in Spring 2023, compared to 27 in the first three months of 2022. 

The surge in popularity, no doubt mostly due to soaring energy costs, is felt across Ireland.

Laois rates 8th in Leinster for the percentage growth in solar panels, according to latest data from the Sustainable Energy Association of Ireland (SEAI).

There was a 255% increase in the number of home solar installations in Ireland by people availing of SEAI grants.

Cavan saw the largest increase in grant supported domestic solar installations (588%), followed by Waterford (427%), and Carlow (400%).

At a provincial level Leinster had the highest number of home solar installations, with 2,102 homes getting solar panels fitted in Q1 2023, an increase of 250% on last year.

The largest growth year-on-year was in Ulster, where 204 homes had solar panels installed, a staggering jump of 397% compared with 41 homes in the same period last year.

Munster saw a 273% increase in grant-aided home solar this year, with 1,155 homes getting panels fitted, and Connacht recorded a 205% jump to 521 solar PV installations in Q1 2023. 

Dublin was the county with the most grant supported domestic solar installations in Q1 2023, with 865 homes having solar PV panels installed. Cork followed Dublin with 512 solar installations from January to March, and Galway saw the third most in the country with 257.

The lowest number of homeowners installing solar panels with the assistance of SEAI grants so far this year has been in Longford (16), Leitrim (27), and Monaghan (45). But even there the numbers for the first three months of 2023 are up from just 10 in each county in the same period of 2022.

James Dorrian is Managing Director of Energy Efficiency Ireland – Reducing Energy Costs for Irish Households, a new website which connects homeowners with local SEAI registered solar installers.

“The rising interest that people have in home solar power is clearly seen in the fact that home solar installations have more than doubled in 2023”.

“The stark difference between the figures for the start of this year, and the same three months in 2022, show that solar power is becoming an increasingly affordable option for homeowners looking to save money on their electricity bills, while also reducing their carbon footprint.”

“As electricity prices remain stubbornly high, and with the reduced O% VAT rate for solar on residential properties, we’re expecting to see continued strong interest in solar PV from homeowners who want to become energy independent.”

The government cut the VAT rate on the supply and installation of domestic solar panels from 13.5% down to nothing at the start of May this year to help families with high electricity prices and encourage the growth of micro-generation within Ireland.

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The SEAI offers grants of up to €2,400 for homeowners who are having solar PV panels installed on their property. This grant scheme is eligible for all homes built and occupied prior to 2021.

Home solar got a boost late last year, when changes were made to planning regulations regarding rooftop solar. Homeowners can now install unlimited amounts of solar panels on the roofs of houses without needing planning permission.

The changes in planning regulations were introduced in October of 2022.