Commercial solar panel cost in Ireland
Commercial solar panels cost €600–€1,700 per kWp installed in Ireland, before VAT. A typical 50 kWp system costs €40,000–€75,000 before the SEAI grant and €27,400–€62,400 after the standard grant.
Commercial solar cost by system size
| System size | Cost before grant | Standard SEAI grant | Cost after grant | Generation per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 kWp | €18,000–€34,000 | €6,600 | €11,400–€27,400 | About 17,000 kWh |
| 50 kWp | €40,000–€75,000 | €12,600 | €27,400–€62,400 | About 43,000 kWh |
| 100 kWp | €70,000–€140,000 | €22,600 | €47,400–€117,400 | About 86,000 kWh |
| 200 kWp | €130,000–€180,000 | €42,600 | €87,400–€137,400 | About 172,000 kWh |
| 500 kWp | €300,000–€400,000 | €87,600 | €212,400–€312,400 | About 430,000 kWh |
Costs exclude VAT. A difficult roof, structural reinforcement or a switchboard or grid connection upgrade pushes a quote to the top of the range.
Cost with the enhanced grant, to 6 July 2027
For applications from 7 October 2026 to 6 July 2027, SEAI pays double the standard grant or 45% of the invoiced cost, whichever is lower.
| System size | Cost before grant | Enhanced SEAI grant | Cost after grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 kWp | €18,000–€34,000 | €8,100–€13,200 | €9,900–€20,800 |
| 50 kWp | €40,000–€75,000 | €18,000–€25,200 | €22,000–€49,800 |
| 100 kWp | €70,000–€140,000 | €31,500–€45,200 | €38,500–€94,800 |
| 200 kWp | €130,000–€180,000 | €58,500–€81,000 | €71,500–€99,000 |
| 500 kWp | €300,000–€400,000 | €135,000–€175,200 | €165,000–€224,800 |
See the grant rates and rules.
VAT
Commercial solar carries VAT at 23%. A VAT-registered business reclaims it through its normal return, and the SEAI grant is calculated on the cost before VAT.
Example: a 50 kWp system at €50,000 plus €11,500 VAT is invoiced at €61,500. The business reclaims the €11,500, and the grant is worked out on the €50,000.
Tax relief
Companies and sole traders can claim the Accelerated Capital Allowance on qualifying solar equipment. It writes off 100% of the cost against profits in year one, instead of over 8 years.
Savings and payback
- Payback: 5 to 7 years
- Return: 10 to 15% a year
- Bill saving: 30 to 50% of the electricity bill
- Export income: about 19.5c per kWh for surplus electricity
A 50 kWp system generating about 43,000 kWh a year saves €9,000–€13,000 a year. Electricity used on site is worth more than electricity exported, so size the system to your daytime use.
Buying or a funded system
Some installers offer a funded system, where they own the panels and you buy the power. There is no upfront cost, but the saving per unit is smaller. Compare a funded offer against a purchase quote for the same roof before you sign.