Commercial solar panel installation in Ireland
Installing commercial solar panels takes 2 to 6 weeks on site, and 3 to 6 months from application to generating power. The grant approval and the grid connection both have to be in place before work starts, and the installer must be SEAI registered for the grant to be paid.
How commercial solar installation works
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Quotes and site survey | Installers review your bills and meter data, survey the roof and switchroom, and price a design |
| 2. Grid application | The installer applies to ESB Networks. Start early, as it is often the longest wait |
| 3. Grant application | The SEAI application must be approved before any work starts |
| 4. Installation | Mounting, panels, inverters and cabling, usually without interrupting your operations |
| 5. Commissioning and grant claim | Testing, certification and monitoring, then the paperwork for the grant payment |
Do not start work before the SEAI Letter of Offer arrives. It is valid for 8 months. See the grant rules.
How long it takes
- ESB Networks connection: at least 4 weeks
- On site, 50 kWp system: 3 to 5 days
- On site, larger systems: 2 to 6 weeks
- Grant payment: 4 to 6 weeks after complete paperwork
- Whole project: 3 to 6 months
How to choose a commercial solar installer
On a system that runs for 25 years or more, the cheapest quote is rarely the best one.
| What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| SEAI registration | The grant is only paid for work by a company on SEAI's registered list |
| References at your size | A 150 kWp factory roof is a different job from a 6 kWp house. Ask for two or three similar sites |
| Grid connection | The installer should prepare the ESB Networks application. Grid capacity, not roof space, often caps the system |
| Structural assessment | The roof has to carry the panels and mounting. Confirm who orders the engineer's report and whether it is in the price |
| Design from your usage | A good installer asks for your interval meter data and sizes to your daytime use, not to the roof area |
| Insurance and safety | Public and employer's liability cover for working at height on a live site |
| Warranties and aftercare | Panel, inverter and workmanship warranties in writing, with monitoring |
What a commercial solar quote should include
Quotes only compare when they cover the same scope. Check each one states:
- System size in kWp and number of panels
- Panel and inverter make and model
- Expected generation per year in kWh
- Estimated split between on-site use and export
- Total price before and after VAT
- The SEAI grant, shown separately
- Grid connection application and any ESB Networks fees
- Structural survey, scaffolding and access
- Switchboard or metering upgrades, if needed
Check the price against the cost by system size.
Questions worth asking
- How many systems of this size have you installed in the last two years?
- Who submits the grant and grid applications, and when?
- What happens to the price if ESB Networks limits our export?
- Do you use your own crews or subcontractors on the roof?
- Who do we call if the inverter trips in year six?