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10 Apr 2026
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10 Apr 2026
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One in every 18 homes in Mayo received a Solar PV Scheme grant between 2020 and 2025, resulting in a total of 2,861 installations.
A report by EnergyEfficiency, which analysed more than 100,000 grant-supported solar PV installations nationwide, found that the average size of home solar systems in Mayo has increased by 66.5 percent since 2020.
Over the same period, the average cost per kilowatt peak (kWp) fell significantly, from €2,565 to €1,634, a reduction of 36.3 percent. These figures include the additional cost of battery storage, which was installed in around half of all systems.
By 2025, the average system size in Mayo had reached 6.7 kWp (approximately 15 panels), compared with just 4 kWp in 2020.
In total, Mayo households invested €32.9 million in solar PV systems, supported by just over €6.2 million in SEAI grant funding.
READ MORE: Multiple Mayo town fuel stations run out as protest impact sets in
Commenting on the findings, Brian Kelly, editor of EnergyEfficiency.ie, said the Irish solar market has seen significant positive changes since 2020.
“Mayo homeowners who installed solar panels in 2020 faced payback periods of around ten years. By 2026, this has fallen to no more than six years for most households,” he said.
“But we must ensure that the momentum achieved in the first half of this decade is not lost, as there are still more than 1 million homes suitable for solar across Ireland.
“With rising energy costs driven by global instability, the value of generating your own electricity has never been greater,” he added.
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