How to secure an energy upgrade grant for your home

Your guide to home energy grants in Ireland

Updated March 2024

Table of contents

Ireland’s principal home energy funding body, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), offers various grants to homeowners and businesses to upgrade their premises with energy-efficient solutions. These grants are not just for homeowners and businesses but also for communities and large industries.

The SEAI home grants are also known as the Better Energy Homes scheme, offering subsidised funding to homeowners who invest in energy-efficient solutions. Actively reducing energy consumption levels can also help the beneficiaries improve their respective energy performance and address the market failures in energy consumption and production. 

This guide will help you understand all the types of grants and how to apply for them.

Insulation grants

A home may lose between 20 and 30 per cent of its heat via walls or more when it is not properly insulated. SEAI insulation grants help homes to be more energy-efficient as well as comfortable. 

Current SEAI insulation grant values


Attic insulation

Energy upgrades

Energy upgrades

Grant value

Grant value

Energy upgrades

Apartment

Grant value

€800

Energy upgrades

Mid-terrace house

Grant value

€1,200

Energy upgrades

Semi-detached or end-of-terrace house

Grant value

€1,300

Energy upgrades

Detached house

Grant value

€1,500


Cavity wall insulation

Energy upgrades

Energy upgrades

Grant value

Grant value

Energy upgrades

Apartment

Grant value

€1,500

Energy upgrades

Mid-terrace house

Grant value

€2,000

Energy upgrades

Semi-detached or end-of-terrace house

Grant value

€3,500

Energy upgrades

Detached house

Grant value

€4,500


Wall insulation (internal dry lining)

Energy upgrades

Energy upgrades

Grant value

Grant value

Energy upgrades

Apartment 

Grant value

€1,500

Energy upgrades

Mid-terrace house

Grant value

€2,000

Energy upgrades

Semi-detached or end-of-terrace

Grant value

€3,500

Energy upgrades

Detached house

Grant value

€4,500


External wall insulation (the wrap)

Energy upgrades

Energy upgrades

Grant value

Grant value

Energy upgrades

Apartment 

Grant value

€3,000

Energy upgrades

Mid-terrace house

Grant value

€3,500

Energy upgrades

Semi-detached or end-of-terrace

Grant value

€6,000

Energy upgrades

Detached house

Grant value

€8,000

 *All rates are accurate as of March 2024

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Solar electricity grant

Solar energy is a truly renewable energy source which does not deplete on usage. This means that solar energy can be harnessed in all the areas of the globe, unlike some other sources such as fossil fuels.

Solar energy will substantially reduce your electricity bills. Meeting your energy needs by your own installed solar energy system will significantly improve the energy efficiency of your home and deliver a significantly improved BER Rating. The amount saved by the system depends on the size of the inverter, the number of panels fitted on your roof or ground mounted system and whether battery storage is included or not.

From your solar system, there is also a likelihood of receiving payments for the surplus energy generated. For more information, read our microgeneration information page.

Energy upgrade

Energy upgrade

Grant value

Grant value

Example

Example

Energy upgrade

Solar PV grant

Grant value

€800 per kWp up to 2kWp

Example

€1600 for 2kWp solar panels

Energy upgrade


Grant value

€250 for every additional kWp up to 4kWp

Example

€1850 for 3kWp solar panels

Energy upgrade


Grant value

Total Solar PV grant capped at €2100

Example

€2100 for 4kWp solar panels

Ready to start your solar journey?

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More information

Solar water heating grant   

It is easy and cheap to heat your water using solar water heating grants. Solar thermal systems are usually designed to meet about 50 to 60 percent of your overall annual hot water requirements. This saves you money by immensely cutting down your electric and heating bills.

Your home also becomes energy efficient and comfortable with well-regulated water temperatures. Heating your water by solar thermal reduces your energy consumption all year round.  

Solar water heating grant

Energy upgrades

Energy upgrades

Grant value

Grant value

Energy upgrades

Solar water heating grant  

Grant value

€1200

 

Who can apply for the solar water heating grant?

This grant is open for application to homeowners and landlords whose homes were built and occupied before 2021.

Heat pump systems grant

A heat pump is a device that measures and controls your home’s climate by distributing the heat that is already available in the air. In the summer, the pump extracts the heat inside your home and moves it outside. In the winter, it extracts the heat from the outside environment and transfers it inside your home to provide warm comfort. A heat pump is a smart and clean way to heat, cool, purify, and dehumidify your home.

Heat pumps are a green, efficient alternative to relying on fossil fuels for our heating systems, offering tangible benefits in the form of lower costs and reduced carbon emissions. Heat pumps offer more comfort to your insulated home. They lead to lower energy bills due to their efficient functionality.

Heat pump systems grant values

Energy upgrades

Energy upgrades

Grant for house

Grant for house

Grant for apartment

Grant for apartment

Energy upgrades

Air to Water

Grant for house

€6,500

Grant for apartment

€4,500

Energy upgrades

Ground Source to Water

Grant for house

€6,500

Grant for apartment

€4,500

Energy upgrades

Exhaust Air to Water

Grant for house

€6,500

Grant for apartment

€4,500

Energy upgrades

Water to Water

Grant for house

€6,500

Grant for apartment

€4,500

Energy upgrades

Air to Air

Grant for house

€3,500

Grant for apartment

€3,500

A grant of €200 is also available for a technical assessment, which is required before you apply for a heat pump grant.

For more information about heat pumps, check out our heat pump guide.

Interested in a heat pump for your home?

Register your details with us to talk to one of our heat pump experts.

Find out more

Electric vehicle home charger grant

To aid the transition to a greener future, the Irish government is offering grants to make owning an electric vehicle (EV) more accessible. The government-funded program helps offset the upfront cost of installing a home charging unit, making the switch to an EV a more attractive and cost-effective option.

Energy upgrades

Energy upgrades

Grant value

Grant value

Energy upgrades

Electric vehicle home charger installation

Grant value

€300

Am I Eligible?

The Electric Vehicle Home Charger Grant is open to a broad range of applicants. As long as you are a resident homeowner in Ireland, you can apply for the grant regardless of whether you currently own an EV. This forward-thinking approach encourages the early adoption of electric vehicles and helps build a more sustainable transportation infrastructure.

Get a quote for your home charger

Our partners at Local Heroes will connect you to a qualified EV charger installer in your area, quickly and easily.

Get a free quote

Heating controls grant

Upgrading your heating controls and integrating into a smart home infrastructure allows your home's occupants to enjoy the benefits of a warmer and more energy-efficient dwelling. 

There are different benefits of upgrading your heating controls, such as reduced energy usage; consequently, which helps you save money. Heating controls help you to heat your home only when you need to. Upgraded controls give you a seven-day timer that helps you to plan your energy usage.

Upgraded heating controls are usually zoned for more efficiency. You’ll be able to heat your water without having to turn on your home heating. It’s also possible to split upstairs and downstairs into two distinct heating zones for further extended efficiency and to get the most from the available funding support.

Heating control grant value

Energy upgrades

Energy upgrades

Grant value

Grant value

Energy upgrades

Heating controls upgrade 

Grant value

€700

 

Who can apply for the heating controls grant?

The heating controls grant is open for application to all homeowners as well as landlords whose homes were built and occupied before 2011. Your property won't be eligible for this grant if you're applying for, or previously claimed, a heat pump grant as a heat pump system incorporates heating controls as part of the grant works.

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How to apply for home energy grants

You can apply for an energy grant either online or by post. The steps below will guide you on how to apply for SEAI grants or you can take a look at the Home Energy Upgrades website.

After reviewing various grants offered by the SEAI, you'll have to decide on the specific grants suitable for your home. It's good to be in contact with a good building contractor, an architect, BER assessor, or an energy advisor. These experts will be able to guide you on the best upgrades that are going to work best for your home. Bord Gáis Energy has professionals who can undertake an evaluation for your home and guide you accordingly, to make sure you are not missing the point.

This step applies to those applying to undertake a Heat Pump System upgrade. It is required that a technical advisor possess the following qualifications; be SEAI registered, certified to carry out heat pump systems operations, agree to a contract before undertaking any operations with a homeowner. Choose a qualified and registered technical advisor to guide you through the process of grants and upgrades.

It's vital to have a contractor who will guide you through the process of upgrading your home. It is required that a contractor possess the following qualifications; be SEAI registered, certified to carry out the work registered for, agree to a contract before undertaking any operations with the homeowner.

The grant application can be made online or via a post.

Online application:

You will be required to fill the online application form on SEAI's website. You will also be required to provide the Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN) from your electricity bill as well as the name of your contractor from the SEAI register. The application is approved in minutes.  

If you’re applying for a Solar PV grant, you can visit the SEAI's Solar PV webpage.

By post:

If you wish to apply for a grant via post, you will need to call the SEAI on 01 808 2100 for them to email you a form or download a copy of the application form here. When you’re done filling the form, you should post it to the following address;

Better Energy Homes Scheme

Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland

P.O. Box 119

Cahirciveen

Co. Kerry


If you’ve applied for the grant online, you should receive an offer from the SEAI immediately. If you applied via post, you should receive the offer within five working days. Upon receiving the offer, you'll have 30 days to accept it. If you haven’t accepted the grant offer within the initial 30-day period, the offer elapses and you'll be required to re-apply for the grant from scratch.

SEAI gives you eight months from the actual date you accept the offer, to complete the upgrade work at your home and return the paperwork to them. The expiry date is usually indicated in the offer letter sent to you once you have accepted it. During this period, you’ll be required to do the following;

a.   Complete your home's selected upgrades by an SEAI-registered contractor.

b.  Entail a financing agreement with your contractor or pay them in full.

c.   Have your upgrades assessed by a registered BER assessor and publish your certificate.

Once the work is completed and you've paid your contractor, you'll be able to draw down your grant funds. You can then rest assured knowing you've both saved money and done your bit for the environment in reducing your carbon footprint and ultimately, protecting our environment.