What is Self-Consumption?
The percentage of solar electricity you use directly in your home rather than exporting to the grid.
Quick Answer
Typical self-consumption for an Irish home without a battery is 30–50%. Adding a battery can increase this to 60–80%. Shifting usage to daytime — running the dishwasher, washing machine, and EV charger during sunny hours — is the simplest way to improve self-consumption without additional cost.
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
Self-Consumption Explained
Self-consumption (or self-use) is the proportion of solar electricity that is consumed on-site rather than exported to the grid. Higher self-consumption means greater savings because using your own solar electricity avoids buying from the grid at the retail rate (35–45c/kWh), which is worth more than the export rate (15–24c/kWh). Self-consumption can be increased by running appliances during daylight hours, using timers, or adding battery storage.
How Does Self-Consumption Work in Ireland?
Typical self-consumption for an Irish home without a battery is 30–50%. Adding a battery can increase this to 60–80%. Shifting usage to daytime — running the dishwasher, washing machine, and EV charger during sunny hours — is the simplest way to improve self-consumption without additional cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good self-consumption rate?
Without a battery, 40–50% is good. With a battery, aim for 60–80%. Higher is always better as self-consumed electricity is worth more than exported electricity.
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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.