Donegal homeowners claimed €1,512,260 in Solar Panel Grants during 2025

Donegal homeowners secured €1,512,260 in SEAI solar panel grants during 2025, with 792 properties installing grant-aided solar PV systems across the county.

The finding comes from an analysis of SEAI data by electricity price comparison website Kilowatt.ie. Donegal placed 15th nationally for total grant funding during the year. The 2025 installation marks a modest increase from 2024, when 672 installations brought in €1,486,775.

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The SEAI solar PV grant currently covers up to €1,800 per household of installation costs. Along with the grant opportunity, Ireland's high electricity prices and the falling cost of solar panels has led to a boom in solar panel installations. A typical 5-kilowatt solar panel installation can save homeowners around €1,000 annually, while reducing reliance on imported energy.

Across Donegal, there are now 4,185 small-scale grant-aided solar panels in operation. In per-capita terms, that's 25.0 per 1,000 people, saving local homeowners an estimated €3,438,213 on electricity bills in 2025 alone, according to the Kilowatt.ie solar energy dashboard which monitors small-scale solar. Nationally, solar panels are saving Irish households an estimated €145 million per year.

Site founder and Carrick native Dominic Ó Gallachóir remarked "Donegal has several solar installers based locally, and a large proportion of detached houses which tend to have plenty of roof space for panels. So I expect 2026 to be another strong year for solar panel installations in the county."

Since the grant scheme began, Donegal has seen 2,418 installations completed, bringing €5,331,833 of grants into the local economy. Nationwide, the programme has accelerated sharply since 2022, with 2025 marking another record for solar in the Emerald Isle.