Practical Guides

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is the Irish government's national energy authority. Among its functions, SEAI administers grant funding to support the installation of renewable energy systems, including solar PV, by community and non-profit organisations.

What types of organisations are eligible?

SEAI community grant schemes are generally open to non-profit community organisations, sporting bodies, religious organisations and similar groups. Eligibility criteria vary between schemes and can change as programmes are updated. The key requirements typically include having a registered address in Ireland, operating on a non-profit basis and owning or having a long-term lease on the building where the installation will take place.

What costs can be covered?

Grant funding from SEAI typically contributes toward the capital cost of purchasing and installing a solar PV system. This generally includes the cost of panels, inverters, mounting systems, electrical connection work and commissioning. Grant amounts are subject to scheme rules and the specific circumstances of each project.

What is the application process?

SEAI grant applications require detailed documentation about the organisation, the building, the proposed system and the planned installer. Applications are assessed against scheme criteria, and organisations may be required to provide additional information during the review process. Grant offers, where made, are subject to conditions including the use of approved installers and compliance with technical standards.

Key things to understand before applying

Grant schemes have specific deadlines and application windows. Work should not commence before a grant offer is received, as retrospective applications are not accepted. The application process can take several months, so early engagement with the grant process is advisable. Requirements and available funding levels can change between programme years.

Irish planning law provides for exempted development — categories of development that do not require planning permission. Solar panel installation falls within exempted development in many circumstances, but not all. Understanding the rules that apply to your building is important before proceeding.

When is solar PV exempt from planning permission?

The Planning and Development Regulations set out conditions under which solar panels on buildings are considered exempted development. These conditions typically relate to panel area, projection above the roof line, and the overall height of the installation. Where these conditions are met, planning permission is not required.

When is planning permission required?

Planning permission is required when the proposed installation exceeds the thresholds for exempted development, or when the building is a protected structure. Buildings on the Record of Protected Structures are subject to additional requirements, and any works that could affect the character of a protected structure require planning permission regardless of scale.

Architectural Conservation Areas

Buildings within an Architectural Conservation Area (ACA) may also be subject to additional planning requirements. Local development plans set out the specific rules for each ACA, which can vary between local authority areas.

The planning application process

Where planning permission is required, an application is made to the relevant local authority. Applications require detailed drawings, a planning report and, in some cases, a heritage impact assessment for protected structures. Local authorities typically have an eight-week decision period, though this can be extended where further information is requested.

Pre-application consultation

For complex cases, a pre-application consultation with the local authority planning department can clarify requirements before a formal application is made. This can save time and cost by identifying potential issues early.

Voluntary committees are experienced at running organisations, organising events and managing facilities. Managing a construction project is a different kind of challenge — one that requires technical knowledge, contractor management experience and familiarity with regulatory processes that most volunteers don't have.

What makes community solar projects different

A solar installation is a capital project with a design phase, a procurement phase and a construction phase. Each phase has its own decisions, risks and documentation requirements. Unlike organising a fundraiser or maintaining a pitch, the consequences of errors in a solar project can be costly and long-lasting — a poorly installed system may underperform for decades, or a missed planning requirement may create legal complications.

Common challenges for committees

Committees often struggle with evaluating technical information from installers, managing grant application requirements, understanding planning obligations and maintaining oversight of installation quality. These are specialist areas, and there is no reason to expect volunteers to be proficient in them.

How to structure committee involvement

Effective committee involvement in a solar project focuses on decision-making rather than technical management. The committee should understand the project at a high level, approve key decisions (such as which installer to appoint) and be kept informed of progress. The technical coordination work should be handled by someone with the relevant expertise.

Keeping your committee informed

Regular, clear updates are important. Committee members should know what stage the project is at, what decisions are coming up and what the current timeline looks like. Detailed technical information should be summarised in accessible terms — not presented as raw data that requires specialist knowledge to interpret.