The useful solar price is an itemised installed quote for your roof, before and after any approved grant. Panel count alone is not enough to compare offers: total kWp, equipment, access and included work all matter.
What should a solar quote include?
| Item | What to compare |
|---|---|
| Panels | Total rated kWp, model and product warranty |
| Inverter | Model, capacity, warranty and battery compatibility |
| Roof work | Mounting, roof suitability, access and scaffolding |
| Electrical work | Protection, cabling, connection paperwork and certification |
| Optional equipment | Battery, monitoring and hot-water diverter priced separately |
| Total | VAT, exclusions, payment stages and gross cost before grant |
Use this checklist to request like-for-like offers. Record any assumptions that need a site visit, and ask who pays if additional roof or electrical work is identified.
Deduct the correct grant
The SEAI solar PV cap is €1,800 (manual, 2026-09-22). The schedule pays €700 (manual, 2026-09-22) per kWp for the first 2 kWp, then €200 (manual, 2026-09-22) per additional kWp up to 4 kWp. The maximum is reached at 4 kWp, not 3 kWp.
The home must have been built and occupied before 2021 and must meet the other scheme conditions, including previous-funding rules. Check SEAI’s solar grant page before work begins.
Source: SEAI, source date 22 September 2026 (manually researched)Compare savings rather than panel counts
Ask the installer for an annual generation estimate with roof direction, shading and system losses stated. Separate electricity used in the home from electricity exported. Exported units do not save the import tariff: they earn the applicable export payment.
Put the gross quote, approved grant and your own tariff into the solar payback calculator. Enter zero grant if you do not qualify. Compare the same inputs in SEAI’s solar calculator.
Does adding a battery improve the result?
Request a second quote without the battery. A battery can change when generated electricity is used, but adds cost and has capacity and warranty limits. Check the effect on both imports and exports; do not count the same unit of electricity twice. Our battery-storage guide lists the questions to ask.
Before choosing an installer
Keep the quote, generation assumptions, exclusions and warranty terms together. Check the installer registration required for the grant, and read SEAI’s homeowner guide. A grant maximum or an example price is not a promise of your installation cost or payback period.