Never a better time to go solar
More and more homeowners in Ireland are going solar, and with the availability of significant grants, 0% VAT on installation, and money back for excess energy, there has never been a better time to do so.
Today, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) grants of up to €2,100 are available to people looking to install solar panels.
This, coupled with the 0% VAT rate for installation (down from 13.5% as of April2023), and money back for any unused energy via the Microgeneration Support Scheme, has led to increased projected uptake across the country this year.
Energlaze Home Energy Upgrades was amongst the first companies in the country to begin installing solar panels and remains one of the most trusted names in the business to this day.
Speaking to the Cork Independent, John McMahon of Energlaze said although energy prices are starting to come down, they remain far higher than they were three years ago, making solar panels an excellent investment.
“It will reduce your energy bill, it will last for a long time, it will add value to the home, and I will guarantee it will improve your Building Energy Rating (BER),” said Mr McMahon.
Energlaze Home Energy Upgrades is a registered SEAI installer and participates in the One Stop Shop scheme that looks to improve the BER of homes to a minimum B2. As a registered SEAI installer, they can help customers to maximise any grants available to them.
“If you have €5,000 in the bank, the maximum interest of that would be maybe 2%. With €5,000 for our six-panel system, after the grant, you're getting a return on your investment right away and you're probably going to save between €400 and €500 a year from your energy bills,” explained Mr McMahon.
He added: “The average house in Ireland uses 11 kilowatts of energy a day or roughly 4,000 kilowatts of energy per annum. That's great but solar performs best between March and the end of October. If a house is using 4,000 kilowatts, we would recommend you install a system capable of delivering about 70% of that because you're overproducing during the summer and you're underproducing in the winter.”
Homeowners interested in solar panels, known as solar photovoltaic (PV), can enquire online at energlaze.ie. Once the enquiry is processed, the homeowner will receive a call from a member of the Energlaze team to discuss their enquiry and to take any further details.
The homeowner will then be assigned an energy consultant who will arrange a time to discuss the best system to suit the needs of the homeowner, as well as providing a free no obligation quote. If the homeowner decides to proceed, the new solar PV system will be installed by an expert installation team at a suitable time.
Mr McMahon said most houses in Ireland can take a six or ten panel system without any issue, advising that a ten-panel system tends to be more suited to a system equipped with a battery.
He said families tend to be out of the house for the main part of the day would benefit most from a battery as energy generated during the day can be saved and used in the evening and morning.
“A south facing roof is great. We can fit them on an east-west facing roof, but north facing is a no-no, you just don't get any sunshine for anything worthwhile in terms of energy,” said Mr McMahon.