How long solar panels take to pay for themselves on an Irish home, after the SEAI grant, from bill savings and export payments.
This is an estimate. The result depends on your roof, your usage and your tariffs, which change over time. Check grant terms with SEAI and get a site survey and quote from an installer before you decide. Terms of use.
How the payback is calculated
Output in a year is the system size times the yearly output per kWp, less the yearly loss. The share you use in the home saves the unit rate on each kWh; the share you export earns the export rate. Export income above the tax-free amount is taxed at the rate you enter. The payback time is when these savings add up to the cost after the grant. Prices are held at today's level and maintenance and inverter replacement are not included.
Example. A 4 kWp system costs €7,500 and gets the €1,800 SEAI grant, so the net cost is €5,700. It produces 3,600 kWh in the first year. Using half in the home at 35 cent saves €630, and exporting the other half at 18 cent earns €324, a total of €954. The panels pay for themselves in about 6.5 years, and over 25 years save €14,106 more than they cost.
SEAI solar PV grant
System size
Grant
1 kWp
€700
2 kWp
€1,400
3 kWp
€1,600
4 kWp
€1,800
More than 4 kWp
€1,800
Sources
Rates last checked 10 October 2026. Every figure is listed on rates and sources.
Figures marked as announced come from Budget 2027 and are not law until the Finance Act 2026 is signed.
The SEAI grant for solar PV on a home is €700 per kWp for the first 2 kWp and €200 per kWp from 2 to 4 kWp, up to €1,800. A 4 kWp system gets the full €1,800, and a 2.5 kWp system gets €1,500. The home must have been built and occupied before 2021, and the grant must be approved before work starts.
Is income from exporting electricity taxed?
Profits from selling surplus electricity to the grid from your home are exempt from income tax, USC and PRSI up to €400 a year for each person named on the electricity bill. Budget 2027 announced an increase to €600 from 2027. The exemption runs to the end of 2028 under current law. Export income above the exempt amount is declared and taxed as income.
How much electricity do solar panels produce in Ireland?
A south-facing roof in Ireland typically produces about 850 to 1,000 kWh a year for each kWp of panels. This calculator starts at 900 kWh. East or west facing roofs and shading reduce output; an installer can estimate the figure for your roof.
What is the Clean Export Guarantee?
The Clean Export Guarantee is the payment your electricity supplier makes for each unit you export to the grid. Each supplier sets its own rate, and you sell to the supplier you buy from. Check your supplier's current rate and enter it here.
What does self-consumption mean?
It is the share of the electricity your panels produce that you use in the home as it is generated. Each unit used saves the full price of buying it, while each unit exported earns the lower export rate. Homes that are occupied during the day, run appliances in daylight, or have a battery or immersion diverter use more of their own power.
How long do solar panels last?
Panels usually carry a 25 year performance warranty and lose about 0.5% of their output each year. The inverter usually needs replacing once in that time, which this calculator does not include.
