Solar hub

Solar panels that produce electricity are known as solar photovoltaic (PV) modules. 

Solar PV is the rooftop solar system you see on homes and businesses across the country. Solar PV panels capture the light from the sun and convert it into the electricity that's used in your home to power your TV, kettle, phone charger, and more. 

Solar PV is a reliable and clean source of renewable energy. It can help reduce your reliance on grid electricity, as well as reduce your energy costs and improve sustainability. Once installed, solar PV will provide electricity quietly, cleanly and affordably for up to 25 years with minimal maintenance requirements.  

A solar PV system consists of solar PV panels and an inverter. This converts direct current (DC) electricity, which is what a solar panel generates, to alternating current (AC) electricity, which the electrical grid uses. 

The electricity generated by your bespoke solar PV system will be based on your bespoke design and the panels that we install. The design will be created based on your specific needs, such as your current electricity consumption and other factors such as the size and orientation of your roof (north, south, east, west). 

Solar PV can:  

• Reduce your electricity bills by generating your own renewable, sustainable electricity. 
• Add to the value of your home. Reduce your reliance on electricity generated from fossil fuels.
• Benefit the environment by reducing your greenhouse gas emissions. 

Click here to register your interest in a solar PV installation, and we'll be in touch. 

For more information on solar PV, take a look at our Beginner's Guide to Solar Energy in Ireland.  

The Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland (SEAI) provides grants for homeowners who wish to install solar panels.  

All homeowners, including private landlords, whose homes were built and occupied before 2021 can apply.  

For more information, see seai.ie/grants.  

Yes, we offer a financing option to help pay for solar PV installations.  

If you’d like to avail of financing for your solar PV installation, Finance Ireland's hassle-free Green Loans make sustainable living affordable and accessible for everyone. 

You can use their calculator to get a quick quote. The minimum you can expect to pay for one of our solar PV systems is approximately €5,399. However, you’ll need to wait until you have a more accurate quote for a solar PV system from Bord Gáis Energy to complete the eligibility check. We’ll send this to you once we’ve surveyed your home. 

Get a quick quote

For any questions related to Finance Ireland's Green Loans, please contact Finance Ireland directly. You can also view their Green Loans FAQs here.

Bord Gáis Energy Limited is authorised by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) as a credit intermediary under the Consumer Credit Act 1995. We work with authorised credit providers (regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland) who may be able to offer finance for your purchase, subject to eligibility criteria and financial status. 

This depends on a number of factors. Get a free consultation from one of our experts. 

Your bespoke installation quote will be shared with you before you decide to proceed. The quote will be based on the installation size, roof type and access availability, amongst other factors. Your historic consumption data will also be used to indicate the payback period of the system. 
 
If it’s the case that ancillary works will be required, you'll be advised of this prior to deciding to proceed. We'll discuss the options for you to apply for and receive grant funding towards your installation.  

Click here to register your interest in a solar PV installation, and we'll be in touch.  

For more information on solar PV, see our Beginner's Guide to Solar Energy in Ireland.  

If your solar panels produce more electricity than you use, you can sell it back to the grid.

If your solar panels produce more electricity than you need, you can sell it back to the grid. This is called microgeneration. Bord Gáis Energy customers can do this by signing up to our Microgen Export Plan.  

For more information, see our microgeneration info page.

Microgeneration is the generation of electricity by households, in addition to their supply. 

It's the small-scale generation of electricity by households or small businesses to meet their own needs, in addition to their existing electricity supply. If you’re microgenerating, you can sell your excess electricity back to the grid.  

Microgeneration involves installing a small generator powered by a renewable source such as solar, wind or hydropower and connecting it to the electricity network. Microgeneration technologies in scope for the Clean Energy Guarantee (CEG) payment include Solar Photo-Voltaic (PV), Micro-Wind, Micro-Hydro and Renewable Micro-CHP (Combined Heat and Power).  

If you wish to connect a microgenerator to the network, you should notify ESB Networks using an NC6 or equivalent form. The form and details are available on ESB Networks website.  

Once your application has been processed, ESBN will notify your supplier of your Maximum Export Capacity (MEC). Your MEC is the maximum output of electricity that your generator can produce. Microgeneration installations up to 50kW can qualify for a microgen payment. Once you have your MEC, you can sign up for our microgen export plan. Click here to check if you're eligible.

For more information on microgeneration and our rates, please visit our microgeneration page.

Please note: if your power is at powered off status you cannot use your microgenerator to export electricity. Microgenerators have protective devices which, for safety purposes, switch the generator off if the electricity supply is off or de-energised. 

In partnership with the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), Bord Gáis Energy is collaborating with farmers to help them understand how solar PV can work on their farms. We’re working together with individual farmers to conduct a detailed assessment of the viability, design and installation of a rooftop solar PV system. 

You can register your interest in this scheme at ifa.ie/solar/. The IFA will then be in touch to talk you through the process, including the eligibility of your farm buildings for solar PV installation.  

Each installation will be tailored to you and your farm, and this will be discussed with you before you agree to proceed.