New €600 SEAI grant for solar batteries announced by Energy Minister

Darragh O’Brien, Minister for Energy, has announced a new SEAI grant of €600 for households purchasing a solar battery, saying it will help reduce energy bills.

Speaking on The Claire Byrne Show ahead of the 2027 Budget, the Fianna Fáil TD highlighted the need for clean, cheaper green energy as global fossil fuel prices rise. He noted that SEAI grants for retrofitting homes have become “more flexible and accessible” since he took office, and that retrofitting activity has risen sharply in recent months.

O’Brien said the government is removing barriers that deter people from applying for grants, adding that the new battery grant aims to complement existing solar PV installations by allowing households to store and use electricity when needed, including for electric car charging.

A typical solar battery costs several thousand euros but can save a home with solar panels several hundred euros in energy costs each year. The government’s broader target is to retrofit 500,000 homes to at least a B2 standard by 2030, cutting heating costs and carbon emissions.

He pointed out that 100,000 SEAI applications have already been received this year, meaning that many households will be able to lower both their energy use and their bills.

Source: Newstalk. Photo: Kindel Media / Pexels.