Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Solar PV works from daylight, not just direct sunshine.
Ireland may not be the sunniest country, but a well-designed solar PV system can still generate a significant amount of electricity and reduce household energy bills.
The key is making sure the system is correctly sized for your home, your roof, your usage pattern, and your future energy needs.

In many cases, yes.
The level of savings depends on several factors, including:
• The size of your solar PV system
• Your household electricity usage
• When you use electricity during the day
• Your electricity tariff
• Whether you have a battery • Whether you use an EV charger or heat pump
• How much electricity you export back to the grid
Small changes, such as using high-demand appliances during daylight hours, can improve savings.
A properly designed system can often pay for itself well within its expected lifetime.

Solar PV panels generate electricity from daylight.
That electricity is converted by an inverter into usable power for your home. It can then be used for lighting, appliances, cooking, hot water, EV charging, or other household electricity needs.
Any surplus electricity may be stored in a battery or exported back to the grid, depending on your system design

Yes. Roof orientation affects how much electricity your system can generate.
South-facing roofs are usually strongest, but east-facing and west-facing roofs can also work well, especially where electricity is used in the morning or evening.
North-facing roofs are generally less productive and may not be cost-effective in many cases.
Where roof space is unsuitable, garden-mounted solar PV may be worth considering.

No, but many modern PV panels are now similar in performance, efficiency, and warranty.
The differences usually come down to:
• Panel output
• Product warranty
• Performance warranty
• Manufacturer reputation
• Appearance
• Long-term degradation rate
• Suitability for your available space
We help homeowners understand whether the panels being quoted are appropriate for the system and price being offered.

A diverter sends excess solar electricity to your immersion heater to produce hot water.
Whether you need one depends on your household’s hot water usage, electricity usage, battery plans, and export tariff.
For some homes, a diverter is useful. For others, the money may be better spent elsewhere.
We assess this as part of the consultation.

Not always.
A battery can store electricity generated during the day so it can be used later in the evening, at night, or early in the morning.
However, batteries add cost, so the decision should be based on:
• Your daytime electricity usage
• Your evening and night-time usage
• Your electricity tariff
• Battery cost
• Expected payback
• Whether you have or plan to have an EV or heat pump
• Whether backup power is important to you
A battery can be valuable, but it should be sized correctly and justified financially.

Yes.
Solar PV can help reduce the cost of EV charging, especially if the vehicle is at home during daylight hours.
However, the value depends on when the car is available for charging, the size of your PV system, your driving habits, your charger setup, and your electricity tariff.
EV charging should be considered during the design stage if you already own an EV or plan to buy one.

Typical warranties are:
• PV panels: around 25 years
• Inverters: usually 10–15 years
• Batteries: usually 10–15 years
Many systems can continue operating beyond the warranty period, but it is important to understand what is covered, for how long, and under what conditions.

Yes. SEAI grants may be available for eligible solar PV installations, provided the work is carried out by an SEAI-registered installer.
Grant availability, eligibility, and amounts can change, so this should always be checked before proceeding.

Yes.
Under the Clean Export Guarantee scheme, homeowners with a registered system and suitable metering can receive payment or credit for excess electricity exported back to the grid.
However, the best financial result is usually achieved when the home uses as much of its own solar electricity as possible.
Our modelling takes export income into account when assessing system size, payback, and long-term value.

Most standard domestic solar PV installations can be completed in around one day, depending on the size of the system, property type, roof access, and installer schedule.
More complex installations, including batteries, EV chargers, or ground-mounted systems, may take longer.

Yes, but it is better to plan for future expansion from the beginning.
Adding panels or a battery later may be possible, but there can be limits based on:v • Inverter capacity
• Roof space
• Battery compatibility
• Existing system designv • Wiring and installation setup
• Availability of matching panels
A system designed with future expansion in mind can save money and avoid technical restrictions later.

This depends on your system design.
Most standard solar PV systems shut down during a power outage for safety reasons.
If backup power is important, especially in rural areas, a solar PV and battery system can be designed with emergency power supply capability. This allows selected circuits or essential services to continue operating from the battery during an outage.
This needs to be specified correctly before installation.

Yes. If you own an electric vehicle, solar PV can help reduce the cost of charging, especially when charging during the day.
For some households, combining solar PV with EV charging can significantly reduce motoring costs compared with petrol or diesel.
The actual savings depend on your vehicle usage, charging times, tariff, PV system size, and whether you use battery storage.

Solar PV can be a very good investment, but only when the system is properly designed around your home, your electricity usage, and your long-term plans.
Before you commit to an installer, get independent advice.

Yes. Ian can review system size, equipment, pricing, warranties and savings assumptions.

Not always. It depends on your usage, electricity rates, export payments and budget.

It depends on roof space, orientation, shading, electricity usage and long-term plans.

Yes, solar energy is suitable for most homes and businesses. Factors such as available roof space, sunlight exposure, and your energy consumption are evaluated to design a system that delivers maximum efficiency, cost savings, and long-term reliability.