Solar Grants
Overview
As renewable energy technologies increase their contribution to our energy supply, governments have been incentivising their use through grants.
It is likely that as a technology catches on, governments will stop providing grants for that particular technology.
In Northern Ireland, for example, the Household Programme has stopped providing solar grants.
Current Grants available
At present, SEI pay a solar grant per m² of absorber area on the panel. This is capped at 6m². The absorber area is essentially the area that is coated in a special black paint that soaks up the suns energy.
Flat-plate panels have a bigger absorber area than evacuated tubes. The grant per m² of flat-plate is €250 per m², the grant per m² of tube is €300. However, to get the same efficiency, you need less evacuated tube – this means you will get a smaller grant for your evacuated tubes.
So for an average house, the grant for flat-plates is €1500, for evacuated tubes the equivalent grant would be €1200. Evacuated tubes are also more expensive to purchase. However, they are useful, where space on a roof is a concern.
Commercial solar grants are also available. If you want to do a commercial or industrial solar installation, you can get up to 30% of the costs covered.
In addition, SEI are continually adding new grants. To keep up to date, see their website, where you will find full contact details.
In Northern Ireland, you should contact Action Renewables.