People across Donegal planing to install solar panels have been given a boost after the Government slashed VAT on the energy saving products.
The move, due to be signed off on by the Government this week, will mean a saving of approximately €1,000, bringing the average €9,000 cost for installation down to €8,000.
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan made the move in a bid to encourage more people to opt for renewable energy.
When combined with the SEAI solar grant of up to €2,400, this means that the total average home solar installation will fall to about €5,600.
Mr Ryan said the VAT change will give people cheaper renewable energy and reduce their payback period by nearly a year, from seven years to 6.2 years, based on an average 4.5KW installation for homes.
He said: “This welcome Government move is yet another step on Ireland’s journey to cleaner, cheaper, renewable energy.
“It comes on the back of our on-target retrofitting programme and our micro-generation scheme which is seeing thousands of householders signing up to sell their excess renewable energy back to the grid.”
The Government also plans to put solar panels on all schools by 2025, starting this summer.
