Grant Aerona Heat Pump Review: Ireland's Own Brand
Grant Engineering is the only major heat pump brand headquartered in Ireland (in Birr, Co. Offaly), and its Aerona range is the natural quote for anyone replacing an oil boiler in a rural home. Here's our independent review: the Aerona³ R32 range, the brand-new Aerona R290, installed prices, SEAI grant eligibility, and how it compares to Daikin, the brand with Ireland's biggest installer network.
Quick Answer
Grant Aerona heat pumps rank #3 on our Irish list. The Aerona³ R32 air to water range (6–17 kW, SCOP around 4.6) is a proven, quietly-run unit backed by a warranty of up to 7 years (the longest on our list) and Grant Engineering's rural dealer network built over decades of selling oil boilers. A new Aerona R290 range (4–16 kW, natural refrigerant, designed in Ireland for the Irish climate) launched alongside it. Expect €9,500–€13,500 installed before the SEAI grant of up to €12,500, which Grant models qualify for in full.
Who Are Grant Engineering?
Grant Engineering was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in Birr, Co. Offaly, where it still designs and manufactures heating products. Most Irish households know the name from the Grant Vortex oil boiler (the workhorse of rural Ireland), and that heritage is exactly why the Aerona heat pump range matters: the same merchants and heating installers who fitted Grant oil boilers for decades now fit Grant heat pumps.
That gives Grant Engineering a genuinely different footprint from the Japanese and German brands. Its dealer and service network is strongest precisely where heat pump retrofits are hardest to service: rural counties, one-off houses, homes coming off oil. The company also makes the hot water cylinders and underfloor heating (its Quick Recovery cylinders and Uflex underfloor heating range) that pair with the Aerona, so a full system can come from one Irish manufacturer.
Birr
HQ: Co. Offaly, Ireland
4.6
SCOP (Aerona³)
7 yrs
Warranty: longest on our list
2
Ranges: Aerona³ R32 + Aerona R290
Grant Aerona³ R32 vs New Aerona R290: Specifications
There are now two Aerona ranges side by side. The established Aerona³ is the R32 unit Irish installers have been fitting for years. The new Aerona R290 is Grant Engineering's next-generation range, designed in Ireland specifically for Irish and UK climate conditions after a €2.4 million R&D programme, and built around the natural refrigerant R-290 (propane).
| Specification | Aerona³ (R32) | Aerona R290 (new) |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Air to water, monobloc | Air to water, monobloc |
| Output sizes | 6, 10, 13 and 17 kW | 4, 6.5, 9, 12 and 16 kW |
| SCOP | Around 4.6 (higher at underfloor flow temperatures) | Full figures not yet widely published. Confirm on your quote |
| Refrigerant | R-32 | R-290 (propane, ultra-low GWP) |
| Noise | Quiet Mark awarded (13 kW and 17 kW models) | Designed for quiet running (certification to be confirmed) |
| SEAI approved product list | Yes, grant eligible | Confirm your exact model code is listed before applying |
| Warranty | Up to 7 years (registration and servicing conditions apply) | |
| Pairs with | Grant cylinders (incl. new Quick Recovery range) and the Uflex underfloor heating range | |
Source: Grant Engineering product literature and launch coverage. We have not independently verified every figure for the new R290 range. Confirm the exact model code, output and warranty terms on your quote.
Why the oil-boiler heritage matters
Rural Ireland runs on oil, and Grant Engineering built its business supplying it. The installers and merchants who know Grant products are already in the towns where oil boilers are being replaced, which is exactly where most SEAI heat pump grants are being claimed. If you live rurally and your local heating contractor "does Grant", that familiarity is worth real money in aftercare.
Why the new R290 range matters
R-290 (propane) is a natural refrigerant with a fraction of the global warming potential of R-32, and EU F-gas rules are phasing synthetic refrigerants down, so R-290 units are the more future-proof buy. Grant Engineering says the Aerona R290 was developed specifically for high-moisture Irish conditions, a claim no imported rival can make about its design brief.
Grant Aerona Cost in Ireland & the SEAI Grant
Expect €9,500–€13,500 fully installed for an Aerona³ system, depending on house size, cylinder work, and whether any radiators change. That makes it one of the more affordable quality options on our list, alongside the Samsung EHS (typically €1,500–€2,500 less than an equivalent Daikin or Viessmann quote), while carrying the longest warranty of any brand we rank.
To be clear on an easy mix-up: "Grant" is the manufacturer's name, and Grant Engineering heat pumps qualify for the SEAI heat pump grant like any other approved brand. From 3 February 2026 that support is worth up to €12,500 (€6,500 for the heat pump, €2,000 for the heating system upgrade, plus a €4,000 renewable heat bonus), for homes built before 2021 using an SEAI-registered installer. For the full line-by-line breakdown of what you'd pay, see our heat pump installation cost guide, or check the SEAI grants guide for eligibility.
Grant Aerona³ vs Daikin Altherma 3: Which Is Better for Ireland?
This is local heritage vs global scale. The spec sheets are closely matched; the differences are price, warranty and where each brand's installers actually are:
| Feature | Grant Aerona³ | Daikin Altherma 3 |
|---|---|---|
| SCOP | ~4.6 | ~4.6 |
| Refrigerant | R-32 (new Aerona range: R-290) | R-32 |
| Installed cost | €9,500–€13,500 | €11,000–€15,000 |
| SEAI grant | Up to €12,500 | Up to €12,500 |
| Warranty | Up to 7 years | 5 years (extendable to 7) |
| Irish installer network | Strong rural dealer network (oil-boiler heritage) | Largest in Ireland |
| Headquarters | Birr, Co. Offaly | Osaka, Japan |
Verdict: the efficiency figures are a dead heat, so this comes down to fit. The Aerona³ is usually the cheaper quote, carries the longer standard warranty, and its dealer network is strongest in the rural, off-gas-grid Ireland where oil boilers are being replaced. Daikin remains the safer pick in cities and suburbs where its installer coverage is unmatched. If you're rural and coming off oil, get the Aerona³ quoted first, and ask whether the new Aerona R290 is the better long-term buy for your home.
Grant Aerona Heat Pumps: Frequently Asked Questions
Are Grant Aerona heat pumps any good?
Yes. The Aerona³ R32 range (SCOP around 4.6) is a proven air to water unit with Quiet Mark awards on its 13 kW and 17 kW models, backed by a warranty of up to 7 years (the longest on our list) and Grant Engineering's rural service network built over decades of selling oil boilers. It ranks #3 on our Irish list. The main caveat is that the efficiency figures are solid rather than class-leading; premium German rivals publish higher SCOPs.
How much does a Grant Aerona heat pump cost in Ireland?
Expect €9,500–€13,500 fully installed for an Aerona³ air to water system before grant support. After the SEAI grant of up to €12,500, the net cost for qualifying homes falls substantially. That installed price is typically €1,500–€2,500 below an equivalent Daikin or Viessmann quote.
Is Grant an Irish company?
Yes, and it's the only major heat pump brand that is. Grant Engineering was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in Birr, Co. Offaly, where it designs and manufactures heating products including the cylinders and underfloor heating that pair with the Aerona. The new Aerona R290 range was designed in Ireland specifically for Irish climate conditions. (Grant the company has no connection to the SEAI grant: the shared name is a coincidence.)
Do Grant heat pumps qualify for the SEAI grant?
Yes. Despite the confusing name overlap, Grant Engineering heat pumps are on the SEAI approved product list like any other qualifying brand. The SEAI grant of up to €12,500 (from 3 February 2026) applies as long as your home was built before 2021 and an SEAI-registered installer fits the system. For the new Aerona R290 range, confirm your exact model code is on the approved list before applying.
What is the difference between the Aerona³ and the new Aerona R290?
The Aerona³ is the established range: R32 refrigerant, four outputs from 6 to 17 kW, fitted across Ireland for years. The Aerona R290 is Grant Engineering's new generation: five outputs from 4 to 16 kW, natural R-290 propane refrigerant with a fraction of the global warming potential, and a design brief written specifically for high-moisture Irish and UK conditions. Both are air to water monoblocs that pair with Grant cylinders.
Grant Aerona³ or Daikin Altherma 3: which should I choose?
The efficiency figures are effectively level (SCOP ~4.6 both). The Aerona³ is usually the cheaper quote and carries the longer warranty (up to 7 years vs Daikin's 5, extendable to 7), with a dealer network strongest in rural Ireland. Daikin has the largest installer network overall, which matters most in cities and suburbs. Rural home coming off oil: quote the Aerona³ first. Either way, get both priced.
Related Guides
Heat Pump Cost
Full price breakdown: €9,000–€14,000 installed, net cost after the €12,500 grant.
Heat Pumps
Air source & ground source heat pumps: costs, SEAI grants up to €12,500.
Solar vs Heat Pumps
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Home Energy Grants Guide
All SEAI home energy grants: eligibility, amounts, and step-by-step application.
Sources
- Grant Engineering: Aerona R290 air source heat pump, grant.ie
- SEAI: Heat Pump Systems Grant, seai.ie
- SEAI: Approved Product Lists, seai.ie
Last updated: August 2026
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
John Rooney is the founder of Solar Info and has been covering the Irish solar energy market since 2023. He fact-checks all content against official SEAI data and maintains relationships with SEAI-registered installers across Ireland.
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