Solar Panel Statistics Ireland (2026)
The latest data on solar power in Ireland, updated for 2026. Ireland now has roughly 2,345 MW of installed solar capacity, more than triple the 2023 level, after adding over 1 GW in 2025 alone. Below are the current figures for installed capacity, SEAI grant installations, adoption growth and national targets, each with its source. Journalists and researchers are welcome to cite this page.
Quick Answer
As of the end of 2025, Ireland had approximately 2,345 MW (2.3 GW) of installed solar PV capacity, more than triple the 2023 figure, after a record 1,005 MW was added in 2025. Some 29,151 homes installed solar with an SEAI grant in 2024, and more than 170,000 rooftops nationwide now carry solar panels. The maximum SEAI domestic solar grant is €1,800, held at that level for 2026. Ireland is targeting 8 GW of solar capacity by 2030.
Key Irish solar statistics at a glance
Total solar capacity installed by end of 2025
Added in 2025 alone, a record year for Irish solar
Homes that added SEAI-grant solar in 2024
Irish rooftops now fitted with solar panels
Capacity figures from the Solar Ireland 2025 report; grant and installation figures from SEAI. See the full dataset for per-figure sources.
Installed capacity and growth
Ireland's installed solar capacity reached approximately 2,345 MW by the end of 2025. The country added a record 1,005 MW in 2025, up sharply from 452 MW in 2024 and 543 MW in 2023. That represents growth of almost 160% in two years and puts Ireland on the path toward its 8 GW national target for 2030.
| Segment | Capacity (end 2025) |
|---|---|
| Utility-scale solar farms | ~1,322 MW |
| Distributed microgeneration | ~727 MW |
| Mini-generation | ~74 MW |
| Small-scale commercial | ~53 MW |
| Total installed | ~2,345 MW |
Segment breakdown from the Solar Ireland 2025 report (via pv magazine). Rooftop solar passed the 1 GW mark in November 2025, spanning more than 170,000 homes, farms and businesses.
SEAI grants and home adoption
Home solar adoption has surged on the back of the SEAI Solar PV Scheme. A record 29,151 homes completed a grant-supported installation in 2024, and 26,877 homes had done so by 31 October 2025, putting 2025 on track to exceed the previous year. By the end of 2025, SEAI had processed its 100,000th paid application under the domestic scheme.
The maximum domestic grant is €1,800 (€700 per kWp up to 2 kWp, then €200 per kWp up to 4 kWp), and the Government has confirmed it will stay at €1,800 for 2026. For businesses, farms, schools and community buildings, the Non-Domestic Microgen Scheme offers up to €162,600. See our full SEAI solar grants guide for eligibility and how to apply.
Cumulative Solar PV Scheme (to Nov 2024)
- 66,855 solar PV systems installed
- 3,236 home batteries installed
- 70,091 total measures under the scheme
- ~60,000 homes registered as microgenerators
Solar statistics by county
Solar output varies across Ireland. The sunniest counties in the southeast generate roughly 15% more per panel than the cloudiest in the northwest. The table below ranks all 32 counties by annual solar yield (kWh generated per kWp of panels), alongside the yearly output of a typical 4 kWp home system, local sunshine hours, and SEAI grant installations in 2025 where available.
Across the 26 Republic of Ireland counties with published figures, homeowners completed 33,049 SEAI grant-supported solar installations in 2025. The six Northern Ireland counties are shown for solar yield but fall outside the SEAI grant scheme.
| Rank | County | Yield (kWh/kWp) | 4 kWp system (kWh/yr) | Sunshine (hrs/yr) | SEAI installs 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wexford | 965 | 3,860 | 1,540 | 1,278 |
| 2 | Waterford | 949 | 3,796 | 1,465 | 840 |
| 3 | Wicklow | 947 | 3,788 | 1,448 | 1,275 |
| 4 | Dublin | 915 | 3,660 | 1,500 | 7,044 |
| 5 | Carlow | 911 | 3,644 | 1,490 | 438 |
| 6 | Cork | 907 | 3,628 | 1,380 | 3,603 |
| 7 | Kilkenny | 905 | 3,620 | 1,360 | 754 |
| 8 | Kerry | 896 | 3,584 | 1,246 | 1,076 |
| 9 | Clare | 888 | 3,552 | 1,343 | 1,045 |
| 10 | Laois | 888 | 3,552 | 1,278 | 580 |
| 11 | Galway | 886 | 3,544 | 1,182 | 2,126 |
| 12 | Kildare | 885 | 3,540 | 1,295 | 1,654 |
| 13 | Meath | 885 | 3,540 | 1,315 | 1,972 |
| 14 | Tipperary | 884 | 3,536 | 1,315 | 1,161 |
| 15 | Louth | 881 | 3,524 | 1,315 | 1,084 |
| 16 | Offaly | 881 | 3,524 | 1,240 | 550 |
| 17 | Westmeath | 871 | 3,484 | 1,240 | 603 |
| 18 | Down | 870 | 3,480 | 1,400 | — |
| 19 | Limerick | 869 | 3,476 | 1,281 | 1,888 |
| 20 | Roscommon | 867 | 3,468 | 1,200 | 462 |
| 21 | Armagh | 855 | 3,420 | 1,350 | — |
| 22 | Longford | 854 | 3,416 | 1,285 | 199 |
| 23 | Antrim | 850 | 3,400 | 1,300 | — |
| 24 | Sligo | 847 | 3,388 | 1,150 | 467 |
| 25 | Leitrim | 842 | 3,368 | 1,150 | 222 |
| 26 | Cavan | 841 | 3,364 | 1,250 | 433 |
| 27 | Mayo | 841 | 3,364 | 1,105 | 1,131 |
| 28 | Monaghan | 841 | 3,364 | 1,200 | 283 |
| 29 | Derry | 835 | 3,340 | 1,175 | — |
| 30 | Tyrone | 830 | 3,320 | 1,150 | — |
| 31 | Fermanagh | 825 | 3,300 | 1,150 | — |
| 32 | Donegal | 817 | 3,268 | 1,175 | 881 |
Solar yield and 4 kWp generation figures from PVGIS (EU Joint Research Centre). Sunshine hours are county averages. SEAI grant installation counts are for 2025; a dash means no published figure (all six Northern Ireland counties fall outside the SEAI scheme). See each county page for a local breakdown.
Full dataset: Irish solar statistics 2026
Every figure on this page, with its source. Free to cite with attribution to Solar Info.
| Metric | Figure | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cumulative solar PV capacity (end 2025) | ~2,345 MW | Roughly 2.3 GW installed nationwide, more than triple the 2023 figure. | Solar Ireland |
| Solar capacity added in 2025 | ~1,005 MW | First year Ireland added more than 1 GW of solar in a single year (vs 452 MW in 2024, 543 MW in 2023). | Solar Ireland |
| Two-year capacity growth | +156.8% | Installed PV capacity grew almost 160% between 2023 and the end of 2025. | Solar Ireland |
| Utility-scale solar capacity | ~1,322 MW | Large ground-mounted solar farms account for the largest single share of national capacity. | Solar Ireland |
| Distributed microgeneration capacity | ~727 MW | Domestic and small rooftop systems, the fastest-growing segment. | Solar Ireland |
| Rooftop solar milestone | 1 GW | Ireland passed 1 GW of installed rooftop solar in November 2025, across 170,000+ rooftops. | Solar Ireland |
| Homes with SEAI-grant solar (2024) | 29,151 | Solar PV grant installations completed in the 2024 calendar year, a record annual total. | SEAI |
| SEAI-grant installations (to 31 Oct 2025) | 26,877 | Homes that installed solar with an SEAI grant in the first ten months of 2025, on track to beat 2024. | SEAI |
| Cumulative Solar PV Scheme measures | 70,091 | Measures installed under the SEAI Solar PV Scheme to Nov 2024: 66,855 solar PV systems and 3,236 batteries. | SEAI |
| 100,000th grant application | End 2025 | SEAI processed its 100,000th paid application under the Domestic Solar PV Scheme by the end of 2025. | SEAI |
| Registered home microgenerators | ~60,000 | Homes registered as microgenerators after record application levels in 2022 and 2023. | SEAI |
| Maximum domestic solar grant | €1,800 | SEAI grant of €700/kWp up to 2 kWp plus €200/kWp to 4 kWp, capped at €1,800. Held at €1,800 for 2026. | SEAI |
| Maximum non-domestic solar grant | €162,600 | Non-Domestic Microgen Scheme grant for businesses, farms, schools and community buildings. | SEAI |
| Commercial solar grant support (2024) | €18.3m | Approved grant offers to 1,350 businesses, supporting over 130 MWp of commercial solar PV. | SEAI |
| National 2030 solar target | 8 GW | Government Climate Action Plan target for total installed solar capacity by 2030. | Climate Action Plan |
Cite these statistics
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Attribution (copy and paste)
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Source: Solar Panel Statistics Ireland 2026, Solar Info (https://www.solarinfo.ie/solar-panels-statistics-ireland)HTML:
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.solarinfo.ie/solar-panels-statistics-ireland">Solar Panel Statistics Ireland 2026 — Solar Info</a></p>Frequently asked questions
How much solar capacity does Ireland have?
Ireland had approximately 2,345 MW (2.3 GW) of installed solar PV capacity at the end of 2025, according to the Solar Ireland 2025 report. That is more than triple the 2023 figure, following a record 1,005 MW added during 2025. It splits into roughly 1,322 MW of utility-scale solar farms and 727 MW of distributed microgeneration, with smaller mini-generation and commercial segments making up the rest.
How many homes in Ireland have solar panels?
More than 170,000 rooftops in Ireland carry solar panels, spanning homes, farms and businesses. Under the SEAI Solar PV Scheme specifically, a record 29,151 homes installed grant-supported solar in 2024, and SEAI processed its 100,000th paid domestic application by the end of 2025. Around 60,000 homes are registered as microgenerators.
How fast is solar growing in Ireland?
Very fast. Ireland added about 1,005 MW of solar in 2025, up from 452 MW in 2024 and 543 MW in 2023. That is the first year the country added more than 1 GW in a single year, and installed capacity has grown almost 160% between 2023 and the end of 2025. Rooftop solar alone passed 1 GW in November 2025.
How much is the SEAI solar grant in 2026?
The maximum SEAI domestic solar PV grant is €1,800, and the Government has confirmed it will stay at €1,800 in 2026. It is calculated as €700 per kWp up to 2 kWp, then €200 per kWp up to 4 kWp. Businesses, farms, schools and community buildings can access up to €162,600 under the Non-Domestic Microgen Scheme.
What is Ireland's solar target for 2030?
Ireland is targeting 8 GW of installed solar capacity by 2030 under the Government's Climate Action Plan. With roughly 2,345 MW installed by the end of 2025, that means capacity needs to more than triple again over the second half of the decade.
Related Guides
State of Solar 2025
Data report on solar adoption, performance, and installers in Ireland.
SEAI Solar Grants
Grants up to €1,800, eligibility, and how to apply.
Solar Panel Costs
Full cost breakdown and payback periods.
Solar Farms in Ireland
Live map of utility-scale solar farms across Ireland with SEAI data.
Sources
- SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland): seai.ie — Grant figures, installation counts and scheme data. Primary source.
- Solar Ireland 2025 report: pv-magazine.com — Installed capacity (MW/GW) figures, as reported by pv magazine.
- Government of Ireland Climate Action Plan: gov.ie — National 2030 renewable energy targets.
SEAI is the primary source for grant and installation figures. National installed-capacity figures come from the Solar Ireland 2025 report as reported by pv magazine; these are industry estimates rather than SEAI data.
Last updated: July 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.