Huge increase in solar PV in Donegal so far in 2024

New Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) figures show that the reduction in the solar PV grant at the start of this year has not resulted in fewer installations being carried out.

Donegal saw 333 new grant-assisted solar installations in the first six months of 2024, with a massive 58% increase in installations in Q2 (204) compared to Q1 (129) in the county.

The first six months of this year saw 13,498 PV systems installed across Ireland with grant support, according to statistics published by the SEAI. Some 7,493 solar installations were completed in Q2 with grant aid from the SEAI, an increase of around 1,500 installations compared to the first quarter.

This means that Ireland is averaging around 83 SEAI grant approved installations per day, despite the SEAI grant being cut by €300 on January 1. This is particularly encouraging given there was a surge in applications in December 2023 ahead of the grant reduction in January.

In the first half of this year, 3,014 solar PV installations were in Dublin, and the county recorded a significant 23.7% increase in installations in Q2, reaching a total of 1,667.

So far in 2024, Cork has had the second most installations with 1,446, followed by Galway with 935, and Meath with 818. The next highest numbers of installations were in Kildare (722), Wexford (555), Wicklow (549), and Limerick (528).

In the first half of 2024, the SEAI provided €54,737,280 for home upgrades through Individual Energy Upgrade Grants. In Donegal, there were 632 property upgrades, amounting to €1.6 million.

These grants cover solar PV and solar thermal panels, heat pumps, insulation, and heating controls.There were over 21,500 recipients of Individual Energy Upgrade Grants in Ireland, of which 13,498 were for solar PV panels.

Grants were paid to 1,769 households for heat pumps, 5,326 for attic insulation and 1,003 for external wall insulation. Commenting on the solar PV figures for the first half of 2024, Managing Director of EnergyEfficiency.ie James Dorrian said the situation is promising.

“There were concerns that the grant reduction would have an effect on solar installation figures – however these figures show that demand remains strong as homeowners look to slash their electricity bills,” he said.

“Before Christmas, some government TDs were critical of the 'perplexing' move to reduce the maximum grant to €2,100. Of course, it's impossible to know the true impact of the grant reduction, but the figures are promising. Unlike the stagnation in electric vehicle sales, solar is going from strength to strength, which is fantastic to see – and long may it continue!”

Mr Dorrian said that while the Q2 figures are positive, he would be concerned about the effect of further reductions.

“The Government plans to cut the grant by €300 each year until it's gone. But we'd advise caution – as this incentive has clearly worked to date,” he said. "And our own research shows that even more could be done to publicize these grants, as many people are still unaware they even exist.”