COMPOUND / HOME ENERGY
Solar, without the guesswork.
From your first electricity bill to your final installer quote. Independent Irish guides, practical calculators and a clear route to finding the right solar system for your home.
MAKE THE NUMBERS WORK
INTERACTIVE TOOLS
Three decisions. Better answers.
Compare real quotes and run the economics before signing an installation contract. No registration needed.
Compare your quotes
Enter up to three proposals. See net costs, €/kWp, estimated generation and simple payback side by side.
Open comparator ↗ 02 / FINANCIAL RETURNSolar payback calculator
Model tariffs, self-consumption and grant eligibility. Advanced mode adds EV charging and batteries.
Calculate solar payback ↗ 03 / SYSTEM DESIGNSolar + EV + battery
Understand how electric vehicles, storage and night-rate charging change the economics.
Optimise the system ↗Grants are not automatic. Apply and receive approval before work starts.
Check current rules ↗SOLAR KNOWLEDGE CENTRE
The research before the roof.
Each guide covers a different question, with supporting Irish sources and tools where relevant.
How many panels should you buy? Our new 4kWp vs 6kWp vs 8kWp comparison puts estimated generation, annual value and the extra cost of going bigger side by side. Start with the model, then use your real quotes in the calculators below.
Solar panels in Ireland
Planning, grants, installation, payback, grid connection and what to ask before you buy.
Read the guide ↗ BUDGET & SIZINGWhat should it cost?
Understand quote components, €/kWp, roof suitability and how to avoid false comparisons.
Explore costs ↗ FUNDING & ELIGIBILITYIrish solar grants
Check the standard solar PV grant, battery grant and how approval works.
Check eligibility ↗ BATTERY CALCULATORWill a battery pay back?
Estimate battery value after storage losses, grant assumptions and export income forgone.
Check battery economics ↗ CLEAN EXPORT GUARANTEECompare export tariffs
Compare two electricity offers including import rates, export income and standing charges.
Compare tariffs ↗ PANEL / INVERTER / BATTERYEquipment buyer's guide
Check modules, inverter ratings, warranties, monitoring and installation extras.
Compare equipment ↗ WINTER SOLAR ECONOMICSWhat happens in winter?
See 12-month PV output for 4, 6 and 8 kWp systems, Irish locations and realistic savings.
View monthly output ↗ ROOF ORIENTATIONEast, west or south?
Compare SEAI orientation figures and see how electricity-use timing changes the case.
Explore roof direction ↗ THE DEEP DIVESolar panels vs storage
Read the full comparison before adding a battery to your installation.
Read the guide ↗ INSTALLATIONFind a solar installer
Check SEAI registration, compare offers and use our independent installer checklist.
Find a contractor ↗ GET READY TO BUYPrepare your quote request
Create a clear, comparable brief you can send to multiple registered companies.
Prepare a quote brief ↗RELATED COMPOUND TOOLS
Plan the whole home.
Solar is only one part of the energy bill. Compare current usage, home efficiency and retrofit budgets before deciding on a PV system.
Electricity cost calculator
Estimate the cost of appliances and additional loads when planning solar generation.
Open electricity tool ↗ ENERGY EFFICIENCYBER energy cost calculator
Compare building energy intensity and bills separately from rooftop electricity generation.
Open BER calculator ↗ WHOLE-HOME PROJECTRetrofit planner
Model insulation, heating and solar in a coordinated upgrade budget.
Plan a retrofit ↗RELATED IRISH GUIDES
Start with the energy picture.
Use actual energy needs and tariff information rather than relying on national averages.
Electricity use in Irish homes
Understand your current kWh demand before estimating a solar system.
Read guide ↗ SMART TARIFFSElectricity tariffs in Ireland
Understand import and export economics, day/night plans and EV charging.
Read guide ↗ ELECTRIC HEATINGHeat pumps in Ireland
A heat pump can change the size and timing of household electricity consumption.
Read guide ↗ FABRIC FIRSTInsulation grants in Ireland
Assess efficiency measures before a larger home-energy investment.
Read guide ↗Planning EV charging too? Use the EV Charging Cost Calculator with the solar + EV + battery optimiser. These tools answer related but different questions; avoid double-counting savings.
FROM IDEA TO INSTALLATION
Five steps to a smarter decision.
- Understand your demand.
Use annual kWh and, ideally, smart-meter half-hourly usage to see when you need energy.
- Estimate an appropriate system.
Consider roof area, orientation, shading, annual generation and future EV or heat-pump demand.
- Check the grants.
Confirm the correct SEAI scheme and obtain grant approval before starting the work.
- Request comparable written quotes.
Ask for the same equipment details, yield model, battery capacity, warranties and total price.
- Choose and verify.
Check registration, references, the written contract, grid paperwork, post-works BER and commissioning documents.
READY TO COMPARE?
Already have installation quotes?
Use Compound's free comparison tool to see where prices and assumptions differ. Results stay in your browser.
For solar installation companies
Interested in exclusive county sponsorship? Explore Compound Solar sponsorships and request your counties ↗. This is a pre-launch partner programme; no customer leads are being sold today.
FROM NEWS TO NUMBERS
Use the evidence before requesting a quote.
Following solar news? Read what Budget 2027 means for winter electricity bills or start with the Clean Export Guarantee explainer and our electricity tariff guide. Then estimate bill savings in the Solar Payback Calculator, compare equipment and assumptions with the Solar Quote Comparator and only then prepare a clear installer enquiry. These stages are separate so readers can research without submitting their details.
Sources, independence and limitations
Compound is an independent publisher, not a solar installer or SEAI agent. We do not sell customer details, and no installer can pay to change the arithmetic or order of independent editorial comparisons. We may accept clearly identified advertising in future. Always confirm grant rules and contractor registrations with the official sources.
SEAI: Solar electricity grants ↗ · SEAI: Battery grant ↗ · SEAI: Registered PV companies ↗ · CRU: Microgeneration ↗
Grant figures and eligibility checked against SEAI on 11 October 2026. Last reviewed: 11 October 2026.