Solar Panels for Car Dealerships in Ireland
Car dealerships are a strong fit for commercial solar in Ireland. Showroom lighting runs all day, the workshop draws power through compressors, ramps and diagnostic equipment, and EV charging for forecourt demonstrators, customers and fleet is a fast-growing daytime load that pairs naturally with solar. Large unshaded roofs over the showroom and workshop give you the space to cover it, and the SEAI Non-Domestic Microgeneration Grant plus the Accelerated Capital Allowance improve the returns. Compare quotes from installers who work on dealerships.
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
Quick Answer
Most Irish car dealerships install 20-150 kWp of rooftop solar, sized to showroom lighting, workshop equipment and a growing EV charging load. A 50 kWp system costs roughly €40,000-€55,000 before grant, can fall by around €12,000 after the SEAI Non-Domestic Microgeneration Grant, qualifies for the Accelerated Capital Allowance, and typically pays back in 5-7 years. EV charger grants under ZEVI and SEAI can be claimed alongside as a complementary support.
Why solar suits car dealerships
A car dealership has two things that make solar PV work well: a steady daytime electrical load and a lot of roof. Showroom lighting runs through opening hours, the workshop pulls power from compressors, vehicle ramps, extraction and diagnostic gear, and heating keeps a large glazed showroom warm. All of that demand falls in daylight, so a well-sized array is mostly self-consumed rather than exported, and self-consumption is where the money is.
EV charging is the load that changes the picture. Dealerships are installing more chargers every year for forecourt demonstrators, customer top-ups and their own fleet, and that charging happens mostly during the day while the sun is up. A growing daytime charging load lines up almost perfectly with solar generation, so the more EV charging a dealership adds, the more of its own solar it consumes directly rather than exporting at a lower rate.
Roof space is rarely the constraint. A modern showroom and attached workshop give a large, unshaded, often flat or shallow-pitch roof, far more than a typical retail unit. That means you can size the system to the load rather than to the available area. For the wider picture across building types, see our commercial solar guide.
Showroom & lighting
Large glazed showrooms run lighting, display and heating through opening hours, a steady daytime load solar covers well.
Workshop equipment
Compressors, vehicle ramps, extraction and diagnostic equipment draw power throughout the service day in daylight hours.
EV charging
Forecourt, customer and fleet charging is a growing daytime load that pairs naturally with solar generation.
What size solar system does a car dealership need?
Most Irish car dealerships install between 20 and 150 kWp. 50 kWp is a common starting point for a single-franchise showroom with an attached workshop, covering lighting, equipment and a handful of EV chargers. Larger multi-franchise sites, busy aftersales departments or significant forecourt and fleet charging can justify 100–150 kWp. Across this range the relevant grant is the Non-Domestic Microgeneration Grant, and EV charger grants under ZEVI and SEAI can be claimed alongside.
| Dealership Size | Typical System | Panels (approx.) | Annual Generation | Best Grant Route |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small showroom / used-car | 20–30 kWp | 46–70 | ~17,000–26,000 kWh | NDMG |
| Single-franchise + workshop | 50 kWp | ~115 | ~43,000 kWh | NDMG |
| Large dealership + EV charging | 75–100 kWp | 170–230 | ~64,000–86,000 kWh | NDMG |
| Multi-franchise / fleet hub | 100–150 kWp | 230–345 | ~86,000–129,000 kWh | NDMG |
Generation assumes the average Irish yield of around 860 kWh per kWp per year. Actual figures depend on roof pitch, orientation and shading. A site survey and a year of meter data give the accurate sizing, and if you are adding EV chargers it is worth sizing the array to the future charging load rather than just today's demand.
Car dealership solar grants, ACA and payback
For car dealerships the headline grant is the SEAI Non-Domestic Microgeneration Grant (NDMG). The NDMG funds commercial rooftop solar on a per-kWp basis up to a maximum of €162,600 on large systems, and it stacks with the Clean Export Guarantee for any surplus you do export. A dealership is not an agricultural business, so the agricultural TAMS scheme does not apply here, the NDMG is the right route across the whole 20–150 kWp range.
EV charger grants are a complementary support, not part of the solar grant. ZEVI and SEAI run dedicated grants for non-domestic and destination EV chargers, so a dealership adding forecourt or customer charging can fund the chargers separately while the solar array offsets the electricity those chargers consume.
| System | Gross Cost (est.) | Grant Route | Net Cost (est.) | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 kWp | €16,000–€22,000 | NDMG (€6,000) | €10,000–€16,000 | 5–7 years |
| 50 kWp | €40,000–€55,000 | NDMG (€12,000) | €28,000–€43,000 | 5–7 years |
| 100 kWp | €70,000–€100,000 | NDMG (€22,000) | €48,000–€78,000 | 6–8 years |
| 150 kWp | €105,000–€150,000 | NDMG (€32,000) | €73,000–€118,000 | 6–8 years |
Installed cost on dealerships runs roughly €800–€1,000 per kWp at commercial scale, with smaller systems at the higher end per kWp. Figures are estimates for 2026 and exclude battery storage and EV chargers, which are not covered by the NDMG.
Accelerated Capital Allowance
Dealerships trading as a company can claim the Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA), writing off 100% of qualifying solar and battery cost against profits in year one through the Triple-E register. This is on top of the NDMG and materially shortens the effective payback for a profitable dealership.
Where the savings come from
Commercial electricity costs around 22c/kWh to import while exported surplus earns roughly 18c/kWh, so displacing your own showroom, workshop and EV charging load is worth more than exporting. Dealerships with growing daytime EV charging reach high self-consumption, which is why returns are strong, typically a 10–15% annual return.
Roof, planning and install specifics for car dealerships
The practical details on a dealership differ from a farm or office. Plan for these before you commit to a system size.
| Factor | What to check on a car dealership |
|---|---|
| Roof structure | Showroom and workshop roofs are often flat or shallow-pitch steel; an installer should confirm the roof carries the panel and ballast or mounting load before fixing. |
| Planning | Rooftop solar on commercial buildings is largely planning-exempt in Ireland following the 2022 exemption changes; very large or ground-mount arrays should still be checked. |
| EV charging tie-in | Sizing the array to current and planned forecourt, customer and fleet charging lifts self-consumption; coordinate solar and charger installs to share the connection works. |
| Grid connection | ESB Networks NC6 covers smaller systems and NC7 covers larger ones up to 200kW; inverters must meet EN 50549. |
| Orientation | South-facing flat roofs maximise total yield, while east–west layouts spread generation across opening hours to better match showroom and charging demand. |
Battery or right-sized EV charging?
Because a dealership's biggest swings come from EV charging, the cheapest way to use surplus midday solar is to schedule forecourt and fleet charging into the daylight peak rather than overnight. A battery costs more but can store surplus to cover early-morning and evening demand or rapid charging spikes. Which makes sense depends on your charging pattern and opening hours.
Car Dealership Solar FAQ
How big a solar system does a car dealership need?
Most Irish car dealerships install 20-150 kWp. A 50 kWp system suits a single-franchise showroom with an attached workshop, covering lighting, equipment and a few EV chargers. Larger multi-franchise sites, busy aftersales departments or significant forecourt and fleet charging can justify 100-150 kWp under the NDMG grant. Sizing should match your showroom, workshop and EV charging loads, ideally using a year of meter data.
What grant can a car dealership get for solar panels?
The headline grant for car dealerships is the SEAI Non-Domestic Microgeneration Grant (NDMG), which funds commercial rooftop solar on a per-kWp basis up to a maximum of €162,600. A dealership is not agricultural, so the TAMS scheme does not apply. EV charger grants under ZEVI and SEAI are a complementary support that can fund forecourt and customer chargers separately from the solar array.
Does a car dealership solar system need planning permission?
In most cases no. Rooftop solar on commercial buildings is largely planning-exempt in Ireland following the 2022 exemption changes, which is why showroom and workshop roofs are a straightforward fit. Very large arrays or ground-mounted systems should still be checked, and your installer should confirm the exemption applies to your specific building and location.
How does EV charging change the case for solar at a dealership?
EV charging for forecourt demonstrators, customers and fleet is a growing daytime load, and it mostly happens while the sun is up. That lines up closely with solar generation, so the more charging a dealership adds, the more of its own solar it consumes directly rather than exporting at a lower rate. Sizing the array to current and planned charging is the way to maximise self-consumption.
What is the payback on solar panels for a car dealership?
A 50 kWp system costs roughly €40,000-€55,000 before grant and can fall by around €12,000 after the NDMG, giving a payback of about 5-7 years. Larger systems typically pay back in 6-8 years. Payback is driven by self-consumption, since displacing import at about 22c/kWh is worth more than exporting surplus at about 18c/kWh, and the Accelerated Capital Allowance shortens it further for profitable dealerships.
Related Guides
Commercial Solar
Solar panels for Irish businesses: costs, NDMG grants, and ROI.
Solar & EV Charging
Charge your electric car with solar panels and save €2,500+/year.
Solar for Warehouses
Warehouse solar PV: sizing, NDMG grant, and ROI in Ireland.
Solar for Offices
Office solar PV: 9-5 load match, costs, NDMG grant, and ROI.
Sources
- SEAI, Non-Domestic Microgen Scheme (NDMG)
- SEAI, Accelerated Capital Allowance
- ESB Networks, Micro and Small-Scale Generation
Last updated: July 2026
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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