Since July 2022, Irish homeowners have been eligible to sell their surplus solar electricity to the grid. Prices for exported electricity are negotiated between electricity suppliers and consumers. So it’s important to shop around for the highest value. How Much Can You Make Selling Electricity to the Grid? Your solar export payment depends on: Below […]
Selling Surplus Solar Electricity to the Grid in Ireland in 2024 Read More »
The official amperage limit for solar inverters in Ireland is 25 Amps. This works out to 5.75 kW assuming the official Irish voltage of 230 Volts. However, for a long time, you could get permission to install any inverter up to 6 kW, without issue. This is changing, as ESBN are now looking to strictly
Are 6 kW Solar Inverters Over the Limit in Ireland? Read More »
There are certain aspects of a solar installation that you might be qualified to carry out yourself. However, other work (like the electrical work) must only be carried out by a qualified tradesman. Working at heights (to fit panels on a roof) is also something you should not attempt unless you’re fully qualified to do
The number of solar panels you need depends on your goal: Want to save some money on electricity? Cut your bills to zero? Sell electricity to the grid? Let’s go through the options to see how many panels you need for each. Plus, my personal recommendation, based on the financially optimal number of panels. I’ll
You generally need at least 5 panels (~2 kW) to make solar worthwhile in Ireland. But not every roof has space enough space for 5 panels Let’s look at some examples… Here are some roofs that don’t have space for 5 solar panels: Here are some roofs that do have space for at least 5
This article is an introduction to solar panels in Ireland. To keep things straight-forward, I won’t go into every last detail. But we’ll cover the all key points. By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to weight up the pros and cons of solar panels. Plus, if you decide to go solar, you’ll
We get asked a lot of questions about solar PV in Ireland. So we’ve decided to share some of the most interesting questions and answers below… NB: The questions here are mostly niche/advanced. Consider reading our Overview of Solar Panels in Ireland first. Question I’m considering installing 18 PV solar panels on my SE roof.
It takes a lot of electricity to heat water, and this can result in high bills. Thankfully though, there’s a solution: solar panel power diverters. A solar panel power diverter takes surplus solar electricity and sends it to your immersion heater. Heated water can then be stored for many hours until it’s needed. This article
There used to be only one way to power your home: Pay big bills to your electricity supplier. But solar is changing that. Over the last couple of decades, the cost to install solar panels has fallen by more than 90%! This means you can now slash your bills by switching to solar panels for
1) Big Reductions in Electricity Overheads Ireland has some of the highest electricity prices in Europe. This is a major reason why solar energy is financially attractive here. Solar energy is a great match for businesses in particular. Specifically, most businesses use a lot of power in the middle of the day, right when solar
NPV Calculator Formula The Solar NPV calculator is based on the formula: Where: NPV = Net Present ValueCIns = Installation CostCRep = Cost to replace the inverter at year 15i = Future value discount ratep = lifespan of the solar panel systemG1 = Electricity price in year 1PS = Price of electricity for self consumptionS
Solar panels cost around €5,000 to €18,000 for houses in Ireland. A grant can bring this down to €3,200 – €15,600. Here are some specific examples of what you might expect to pay (ex-grant): €5,700: ~2 kW of solar panels €10,000: ~5 kW of solar panels €18,000: ~9 kW of solar panels + power diverter
Hundreds of Irish farmers are getting solar panels on their farms. But what makes solar energy and farming such a perfect match? First, many farmers have lots of roof space where they can install solar panels. Moreover, some farmers use a lot of electricity for their farm equipment. This means the potential savings can be
The Rise of Solar and Wind Electricity production from solar and wind is booming. This has put a big dent in consumption of fossil fuels for electricity. However, we’re still highly dependent on natural gas to generate electricity when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing. Furthermore, we’re highly dependent on fossil fuels
Ways to Store Hydrogen It’s possible to make hydrogen using only electricity and water. This gives is great potential as a low-carbon fuel. For this reason, the European Union has big plans for renewable hydrogen. However, storing hydrogen can be difficult. Overcoming the challenge of storage could be key to the success or failure of
Key Takeaway: Thermodynamic solar panels are clever in theory, but disappointing in practice. Pairing PV solar panels with a power diverter is a much better alternative. What are Thermodynamic Solar Panels? Thermodynamic solar panels (AKA solar-assisted heat pumps) extract heat from daylight and outdoor air to give you hot water. Their main advantage is better
Mixing and matching solar panels can be very useful at times. For example, a mixture of large and small panels might help you fit the most capacity onto a small roof. Or you might want to add extra panels to an existing solar panel system. However, mixing and matching solar panels can cause problems when
