Solar Panels for Restaurants & Pubs in Ireland
Solar PV is one of the few fixed-cost levers a hospitality business controls. With kitchens, refrigeration and cooling running all day, restaurants and pubs use power exactly when panels generate it. This guide sits under our commercial solar hub and covers sizing, grants and payback for food and drink premises. When you are ready, compare commercial solar quotes from Irish installers.
Last updated June 2026
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
Quick Answer
Most Irish restaurants and pubs install a 6-50 kWp solar PV system, sized to the roof and to daytime kitchen, refrigeration and cooling load. At roughly €800-€900 per kWp before the SEAI NDMG grant, a hospitality system typically pays back in 5-7 years with a 10-15% annual return. High daytime self-consumption (~80-90%) and a battery to push power into evening trade drive the savings.
Why solar suits restaurants and pubs
Food and drink premises have a load profile that matches solar generation closely. Walk-in fridges and freezers run around the clock, extraction and air handling work through service, and ovens, fryers, glasswashers and coffee machines draw heavily from late morning onward. That daytime base load means a restaurant or pub can self-consume most of what its panels produce rather than exporting it cheaply, and self-consumption is where the money is. At a commercial import price of around 22c/kWh, every unit you make and use on site is worth far more than the export rate of roughly 18c/kWh under the Clean Export Guarantee.
The catch for hospitality is roof area. A town-centre restaurant or a traditional pub usually has a smaller, often pitched roof with chimneys, flues, rooflights and plant in the way, so the practical system size is modest compared with a warehouse. The upside is that energy is a real margin pressure in this sector, so even a 6–15 kWp array on a small premises can shave a meaningful slice off the bill. Sites with a larger flat roof, a function room or an attached unit can push toward 30–50 kWp.
The other defining feature is evening trade. Pubs and many restaurants do their busiest hours after the sun has dropped, when the panels are no longer generating. A battery lets you bank cheap solar generated through the afternoon and discharge it into the dinner and bar service, lifting self-consumption and cutting the grid draw during your most power-hungry hours. For more on the wider picture, see the commercial solar guide.
What size solar system does a restaurant or pub need?
Most hospitality sites land between 6 and 50 kWp. A small café or wet-led pub with limited roof typically fits 6–15 kWp, a busy restaurant or gastropub with a full kitchen sits around 15–30 kWp, and a hotel restaurant or multi-unit venue with a larger flat roof can reach 30–50 kWp. Size to your daytime load first, then to whatever the roof will physically hold.
| Premises Type | Typical System | Panels | Roof Area | Annual Generation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small café / wet-led pub | 6–12 kWp | 14–28 | 30–60 m² | ~5,000–10,000 kWh |
| Mid-size restaurant / gastropub | 15–30 kWp | 35–70 | 75–150 m² | ~13,000–26,000 kWh |
| Large restaurant / food-led pub | 30–50 kWp | 70–115 | 150–250 m² | ~26,000–43,000 kWh |
Rule of thumb: 1 kWp needs roughly 4–5 m² of roof and generates about 860 kWh per year in Ireland. Because a kitchen runs a high daytime base load, a hospitality site can self-consume around 80–90% of generation, which is what makes the return attractive even on a smaller array.
Why a battery often makes sense
Restaurants and pubs peak in the evening, after generation has tailed off. A battery stores surplus afternoon solar and releases it into dinner and bar service, so you buy less grid power during your busiest, most expensive hours. Note that battery cost is not covered by the NDMG grant, but it still qualifies for the Accelerated Capital Allowance.
Grants, tax relief and payback for hospitality solar
Restaurants and pubs are businesses, so they use the SEAI Non-Domestic Microgeneration Grant (NDMG), not the domestic grant. The NDMG runs up to a maximum of €162,600 on large systems, though a typical hospitality array is well below that ceiling. On top of the grant, a trading company can claim the Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA) and write off 100% of qualifying solar and battery cost against profits in year one, provided the equipment is on the Triple-E register.
| System Size | Gross Cost (est.) | NDMG Grant | ACA Year-One Write-Off | Est. Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kWp | €8,000–€9,000 | €3,000 | 100% of net cost | 5–7 years |
| 20 kWp | €16,000–€18,000 | €6,000 | 100% of net cost | 5–7 years |
| 30 kWp | €24,000–€27,000 | €6,000 | 100% of net cost | 5–7 years |
| 50 kWp | €40,000–€45,000 | €6,000 | 100% of net cost | 5–7 years |
Costs assume roughly €800–€900 per kWp at commercial scale in 2026. NDMG grant figures are illustrative and depend on the published rate per kWp at the time of application. Payback reflects strong daytime self-consumption at about 22c/kWh import, with export of any surplus at around 18c/kWh under the Clean Export Guarantee.
Where the value comes from
Self-consumption is the main driver. A kitchen and cellar running all day means most generated units offset power you would otherwise buy at the import rate, rather than being exported at the lower CEG rate. Expect a 10–15% annual return on a well-sized system.
VAT for the trade
Commercial installs carry 23% VAT, but a VAT-registered restaurant or pub reclaims it through normal returns, so it is effectively cost-neutral. Combine that with the NDMG grant and the ACA write-off and the real cost is well below the headline price.
Roof, planning and install considerations
Hospitality roofs need a closer look than a plain warehouse. Many town-centre restaurants and pubs have older pitched roofs with limited clear area, broken up by chimneys, kitchen flues, extraction cowls and rooflights. A good installer will map the usable area around all of that during the site survey and design the array to dodge shading from neighbouring buildings, which is common on a tight high street.
- Kitchen extraction and plant: flues, cowls and rooftop condensers reduce the panel count and can cast shade. Plan the layout around existing services.
- Roof condition and age: if the roof needs re-covering soon, do it before or with the install, lifting panels later is an avoidable cost.
- Planning: rooftop solar is largely planning-exempt under S.I. 493/2022 within area caps, but a pub or restaurant in a protected structure, an architectural conservation area or a streetscape with heritage status may need permission. Check before you commit. See our planning permission guide.
- Grid connection: apply to ESB Networks under the NC6 process for smaller systems, or NC7 for larger arrays up to 200kW. Inverters must meet EN 50549 compliance.
- Install disruption: a hospitality site can rarely close for works, so agree a schedule that fits around service. Most 6–50 kWp systems are fitted in a few days.
Do not start before the offer
Wait for your SEAI Letter of Offer before any work begins, or you forfeit the NDMG grant. Choose an SEAI-registered installer and line up your ESB Networks connection early, as that step has its own lead time.
Restaurant & Pub Solar FAQ
What size solar system does a restaurant or pub need in Ireland?
Most hospitality sites fit a 6-50 kWp system. A small café or wet-led pub typically takes 6-15 kWp, a busy restaurant or gastropub 15-30 kWp, and a larger food-led venue with a bigger roof can reach 30-50 kWp. Size to your daytime kitchen and refrigeration load first, then to the available roof.
Do restaurants and pubs get the SEAI solar grant?
Yes, but through the Non-Domestic Microgeneration Grant (NDMG), not the domestic grant. The NDMG runs up to a maximum of €162,600 on large systems, though a typical hospitality array claims far less. The premises must meet SEAI eligibility, including the build and occupancy date rules.
Is solar worth it for a pub when most trade is in the evening?
Daytime prep, refrigeration, cooling and lunch service already use a lot of power while panels generate, so self-consumption is strong. To cover evening trade, add a battery that stores surplus afternoon solar and discharges it into the dinner and bar hours, lifting overall self-consumption and cutting grid draw at peak times.
What payback can a restaurant expect from solar PV?
A typical Irish hospitality system pays back in 5-7 years with a 10-15% annual return. Strong daytime self-consumption at around 22c/kWh import, plus the NDMG grant and the Accelerated Capital Allowance writing off 100% of cost in year one, drive the numbers.
Can a battery be added and does the grant cover it?
Yes, a battery is often recommended for hospitality because of evening trade. The NDMG grant does not cover battery storage, but a trading company can still claim the Accelerated Capital Allowance on qualifying battery cost listed on the Triple-E register.
Related Guides
Commercial Solar
Solar panels for Irish businesses: costs, NDMG grants, and ROI.
Solar for Hotels
Hotel & guesthouse solar: hot water, sizing, grants, and ROI.
Solar for Shops & Retail
Retail solar PV: refrigeration load, sizing, grants, payback.
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: June 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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