There has been a steady growth of PV solar panels for sale in Ireland, with 326 installed capacity in 2020. Today, the concern of whether solar PV is a worthwhile investment in Ireland has long been concluded with the ready example of thousands of homes and commercial spaces that have already installed them and are reaping the benefits.
If you are still wondering if this would be the ideal thing for you, then this article does the math for you, with a detailed guideline about the upfront costs, how many solar panels you need and how the returns work.
Upfront Cost of PV Solar Panels for Sale in Ireland
It is a clear statement that solar panels are high on energy savings but initially, buyers would have to endure investing the upfront cost. There are solar energy grants offered by the Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland (SEAI) that can get you back a big portion of that investment. However, that doesn’t change the fact that you need to make the full payment initially.
So what does the cost look like for average domestic PV solar panels for Sale in Ireland? You are looking at an amount anywhere between €6,000 – €17,000. This figure is based on household needs. Commercial requirements may be greater. Buying solar panels is not the only price you pay for, now let us break down what goes into the price:
- Solar Panels costs range from basic models to high-energy efficient ones
- Site Inspection Charges for your solar panel roof and ground installation
- Installation charges as in labour cost
- Installation or mounting equipment including cables & wires, server racks, solar panel brackets, automation & controlling equipment, circuit breakers, sockets, switches etc.
This cost plan is only for mounting the solar panels in place, it does not include your solar energy storage, as in solar batteries. That cost is added separately, and you can also get separate grants from the SEAI when you install.
Calculating How Many Solar PV Panels You Need To Power Your House And How Much To Invest
Now that you have a bigger picture of the whole cost plan, it is easier to narrow down your solar energy requirements and substantiate a budget.
Looking at typical home needs, somewhere within 1000 kWh should be the monthly electricity consumption. If you get Solar PV panels of 320watts - 400watts each, you can do away with about 25 to 30 solar panels in an array. If your energy requirement is greater than that you may keep adding more, but this is the basic idea based on average needs.
This math changes if you go for small solar panels, say about 120watts to 150watts. These panels are meant for smaller needs, like emergency lights, or for camping. Of course, smaller solar panels cost less than the big ones with 320watts - 400watts. But they can be insufficient for powering an entire house.
So, to have a clear idea about the best solar panels for your needs, follow the simple math of dividing single solar panels by their kilowatt power, and matching that to the total energy consumption. Usually, 300-watt solar panels are the standard choice for homes, but that does not rule out the applicability of small solar panels of below 220watts. But you need to have realistic expectations from them. They can’t run your home appliances and multiple laptops and mobiles or charge your car all at once.
The Solar Energy Grant by SEAI
The SEAI grant is a key player in boosting the PV solar panels for sale in Ireland, especially among homeowners.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), which started a solar energy grant programme for homes in 2018, might reimburse up to €3000 of the upfront cost of solar panel installation. When you factor in the SEAI subsidy, the total cost is between €4,500 and €14,000.
This is in condition with the fact that you get your solar installation via SEAI-accredited installers. In Ireland, one of the most prominent contractors is Alternative Energy Ireland that offers end-to-end services for domestic solar panel roof and ground installations with inspection, solar array designing, customisation, budgeting and finally, get you through the SEAI grant. In fact, this company can also help you sell your surplus electricity back to the grid in future.
So answering the long story short: solar is a great investment to make in Ireland in the New Year 2022. Get in touch with a reputed PV systems contractor, like Alternative Energy Ireland and get educated to make a conscious decision!
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