SEAI Business Solar Grants 2026: How Irish Businesses Can Claim 45% Back

The SEAI business solar grant, the Non-Domestic Microgen Grant, was temporarily increased to an effective 45% of eligible costs from 7 October 2026, up from around 23% before. At the time of writing (October 2026), that rate applies to new applications for a nine-month window. The enhanced rate replaces the standard fixed-value grants: it pays 45% of eligible costs, capped at €325,200 per project. For an Irish business, farm, school or community building with a large roof and a steady daytime electricity load, the enhanced rate is the strongest support solar has ever had from the scheme.

What Is the SEAI Non-Domestic Microgen Grant?

The Non-Domestic Microgen Grant (NDMG) is SEAI's support scheme for installing solar PV on commercial and non-domestic buildings. It pays a grant toward the cost of a system that generates electricity on site, which then reduces your electricity bill and your exposure to retail rates of roughly €0.35 to €0.45 per kWh.

• It funds solar PV systems from 1 kWp up to a maximum of 1,000 kWp.
• Standard grant values are fixed by system size, not by your bill or your sector.
• The scheme is open to businesses, the agricultural sector, public bodies, schools, community centres and non-profit organisations.
• Applications run through SEAI, with the grant paid after the work is completed and verified.

The full terms sit on SEAI's Non-Domestic Microgen grant page.

What Changed on 7 October 2026?

SEAI temporarily raised the support rate for the NDMG as part of the package of enhanced grants announced on 6 October 2026. For new applications, the scheme moved from a commoditised fixed value per kWp, worth roughly 23% of a typical installation, to an effective 45% of eligible costs.

• The enhanced rate applies to new applications made in a nine-month window running from 7 October 2026 to 6 July 2027.
• It is expected to support roughly 1,250 businesses, with average annual savings of around €12,000 each.
• Grant aid for heat pumps and solar thermal under the Business Energy Upgrades Scheme was also raised to 45% of eligible costs.
• The Government estimates enhanced business supports could cut annual energy costs by up to €300,000 for the largest eligible sites.

The change is described in SEAI's announcement of its enhanced grants from October 2026.

How Much Grant Can Your Business Claim?

The grant depends on the size of the system you install. The table below shows the standard fixed values; under the enhanced scheme the grant is instead 45% of eligible costs, up to €325,200.

*Figures correct as of October 2026. Grant values and the temporary rate are subject to change.

Because the enhanced support is calculated as 45% of eligible costs, the grant is generous in relation to the cheaper end of a project, and larger arrays attract more support in absolute terms. A business should treat the grant as a reduction in net cost, not as the reason to install, because the electricity savings are what keep paying long after the cheque clears.

What Does Solar Save an Irish Business?

A commercial array works on the same principle as a home system, but the numbers are bigger. The saving comes from two places, and the first usually matters more.

• Self-consumption. Every unit of solar you use on site replaces a unit you would have bought at retail, so a daytime load such as refrigeration, machinery or IT is where the value sits.
• Export income. Any surplus can earn Clean Export Guarantee payments from your supplier, though these rates are lower than the retail price you avoid.
• Battery storage. Adding a battery lifts self-consumption from around 30% to 70% and can cut demand charges for larger sites.
• Grant support. The temporary 45% rate reduces the upfront capital your business carries.

Our overview of the ROI on solar for Irish commercial properties works through realistic payback figures, and our guide to commercial solar installations covers how to size a project.

Who Qualifies for the Business Solar Grant?

Eligibility is broad, but the roof and the load decide whether a project is worth doing.

• Businesses of every size, from a single-unit retail premises to a large manufacturer.
• Farms, which often pair solar with a large daytime load and significant roof or shed space.
• Schools, community centres and non-profit organisations.
• Public sector bodies.
• Any applicant willing to use a registered SEAI Non-Domestic Microgen company and a Safe Electric electrician.

There is no income or turnover test. The scheme is a capital support, so the practical limits are the size of your roof or site, the capacity of your grid connection, and how much of your generation you can consume on site.

How Do You Apply for the Grant?

The sequence protects the grant, so do not start works before the offer is confirmed.

• Choose and agree a contract with a registered SEAI Non-Domestic Microgen (Solar PV) company.
• Apply online through SEAI for a grant offer.
• Wait for the letter of offer before any installation begins.
• Complete the installation and the grid connection, which your registered installer can arrange.
• Submit the required documentation so SEAI can pay the grant.

Because the enhanced rate is a fixed nine-month window, a business that wants the 45% support needs to have its application in well before the closing date of 6 July 2027. Grid connection and design work take time, so starting early matters more than it usually does.

Final Thoughts

The move to an effective 45% grant rate makes 2026 and early 2027 the best window yet for Irish businesses to go solar. The support lowers the entry cost, while the energy savings protect your margins against volatile wholesale prices for the life of the system. For any business with a sizeable roof and a daytime load, the numbers line up.

Ready to Cut Your Business Energy Costs?

WattCharger designs and installs commercial and agricultural solar systems across Ireland, and can plan a system around your load, your roof and the SEAI supports you qualify for. If storage makes sense for your site, our battery storage team can build it into the design. Get in touch for a free consultation and a customised quote.