Renewable energy experts have predicted a record-breaking year for solar panels in Donegal.
A spokesperson for EnergyEfficiency.ie said the county is on track to install more rooftop units in 2025 than ever before.
SEAI data shows that 731 homes in Donegal received grants for solar panels in 2024, and the popularity of solar energy in the county has continued into the first months of 2025.
In January and February, 136 households in here had solar panels fitted, with 73 new installations last month alone.
“If this trend continues, there will be over 800 new installations in 2025 – a record number for the county,” EnergyEfficiency.ie said.
Figures provided by the SEAI show that €1.5 million in grant funding was awarded to Donegal households for solar panels last year, with the total installation cost totalling €8 million.
Nationally, 29,000 homes installed panels on their rooftops in 2024, availing of grants from the SEAI.
Renewable energy expert Briain Kelly of EnergyEfficiency.ie said that with electricity costs in Ireland being among the highest in Europe, it is no surprise that more households are looking to renewable energy to lower their bills.
“While the environmental benefits of solar energy are huge, most households considering installing solar panels are doing so to slash their energy bills,” said Mr Kelly.
It usually takes less than eight years for eight panels to pay for themselves through savings, and less than seven years for ten panels.
“This leaves homes with around two decades of completely free electricity after the initial payback period,” Mr Kelly added.
“This is one of the main reasons for the increase in solar adoption over the past year, and the strong figures for January and February indicate that Donegal is likely to have a record-breaking year for new installations in 2025.”
Tags:
