New SEAI Grants from 6 October 2026: What's Changed for Your Home

Extra help for lower-income homes and renters

A big focus of this package is the households most exposed to high bills. Three changes stand out.

Up to €9,000 for solar and a battery

Homeowners getting one of these payments can now claim up to €9,000 towards a 4kWp solar system with a 5kWh battery:

• Fuel Allowance under the National Fuel Scheme
• Working Family Payment
• One-Parent Family Payment
• Domiciliary Care Allowance
• Carer's Allowance, if you live with the person you care for
• Jobseeker's Allowance or Disability Allowance for over six months, with a child under seven

Many pensioners receive Fuel Allowance, so this is worth checking if you or a parent is retired.

Solar and battery as standard under Warmer Homes

The Warmer Homes Scheme provides fully funded upgrades for eligible households. Solar panels and a battery will now be offered as standard. More than 39,500 homes have already had free upgrades through the scheme. The Solar PV for the Medically Vulnerable scheme is also being expanded to include a battery.

Insulation grants for HAP and RAS tenancies

For the first time, homes rented under HAP and RAS can get attic insulation grants of €1,400 to €2,500 and cavity wall grants of €900 to €2,300, depending on the house type. A pilot through the Dublin RAS scheme will also offer up to €9,000 for solar and a battery.

Run a business or farm? Solar support has nearly doubled

For the next nine months, the Non-Domestic Microgeneration Grant rises from around 23% to 45% of eligible costs. Heat pumps and solar thermal under the Business Energy Upgrades Scheme also go to 45%. SEAI says an average business solar installation could save around €12,000 a year. If you've been holding off on solar for a shop, workshop or farm, this window won't stay open long.

How to make the most of the new grants

Grants work best when they're part of a plan. Here's what we'd suggest.

1. Start with a Home Energy Assessment

A Home Energy Assessment gives you your current BER, shows where your home is losing heat and tells you which upgrades will make the biggest difference. It also shows which grants you're likely to qualify for. Every good retrofit starts here.

2. Get the order right

Insulate first, then heat. Fabric upgrades like attic, cavity and external wall insulation reduce how much heat you need. That lets a smaller heat pump do the job and keeps running costs down. Solar and batteries can go in at any stage.

3. Consider the One Stop Shop route

If you're planning more than one upgrade, an SEAI One Stop Shop manages the whole project. We handle the assessment, the plan, the SEAI paperwork and the installation, and the grants are deducted from your price upfront. You deal with one team from start to finish.

4. Move before demand peaks

Applications are already at record levels and SEAI expects demand to rise again with these new grants. Getting your assessment done now means you're ready to go as soon as you decide.

More measures could follow. The Government says further supports will be considered as part of Budget 2027, and an Energy Affordability Action Plan is due in the coming weeks. We'll update this page as details are confirmed.

Why homeowners choose Churchfield Home Services

We're an SEAI-registered One Stop Shop, and we've helped more than 6,000 Irish homes upgrade. Our team handles solar PV and batteries, heat pumps, attic, cavity and external wall insulation, and ventilation, across the West (Mayo, Galway, Sligo, Roscommon) and the East (Dublin, Wicklow, Kildare, Meath).

We'll tell you plainly which grants apply to your home and what your upgrade will really cost after them. No pressure, no surprises.

Frequently asked questions