County Cork · Local guide
Solar panels in Cork
Solar panels in Cork cost €6,500–€7,200 for a typical 10-panel (4.4 kWp) system after the €1,800 SEAI grant. In Cork that system generates about 3,990 kWh a year, saves about €1,013 and pays for itself in 6–7 years.
Solar in Cork at a glance
907 kWh per kWp
Ranked 6th of 26 counties
1,380 hours a year
Annual figure for the county
3,603
Second highest county in Ireland
42
317 serve the county in total
Solar panel prices in Cork
Installed prices for a home in Cork at 0% VAT, including panels, a hybrid inverter, mounting, cabling, labour and certification. The generation, saving and payback columns use Cork's solar yield of 907 kWh per kWp.
| System | Price before grant | Price after grant | Generates in Cork | Saving per year | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 panels (2.6 kWp) | €6,500–€7,300 | €4,980–€5,780 | 2,360 kWh | €599 | 8–10 yrs |
| 8 panels (3.5 kWp) | €7,500–€8,500 | €5,800–€6,800 | 3,170 kWh | €805 | 7–8 yrs |
| 10 panels (4.4 kWp) Most common | €8,300–€9,000 | €6,500–€7,200 | 3,990 kWh | €1,013 | 6–7 yrs |
| 12 panels (5.3 kWp) | €9,200–€9,900 | €7,400–€8,100 | 4,810 kWh | €1,222 | 6–7 yrs |
| 14 panels (6.2 kWp) | €10,500–€11,500 | €8,700–€9,700 | 5,620 kWh | €1,427 | 6–7 yrs |
| 16 panels (7 kWp) | €11,800–€13,000 | €10,000–€11,200 | 6,350 kWh | €1,613 | 6–7 yrs |
| 20 panels (8.8 kWp) | €14,000–€15,500 | €12,200–€13,700 | 7,980 kWh | €2,027 | 6–7 yrs |
| 22 panels (9.7 kWp) | €15,500–€17,000 | €13,700–€15,200 | 8,800 kWh | €2,235 | 6–7 yrs |
Savings assume 40% of the electricity is used in the home and the rest is exported. A battery fitted with the panels adds about €2,300 for 5 kWh or €3,800 for 10 kWh, before the €600 battery grant.
Solar grants in Cork
The SEAI grants are national and apply everywhere in Cork city and county.
- Solar panels: €700 per kWp for the first 2 kWp and €200 per kWp for the next 2 kWp, up to €1,800
- Battery: a flat €600 for a battery of 5 kWh or more
- Who qualifies: homes built and occupied before 2025, using an SEAI-registered installer
- When to apply: before any work starts. Wait for SEAI's grant approval before the install.
Planning permission for solar panels in Cork
Rooftop solar on a house in Cork is exempt from planning permission, with no limit on the roof area covered, since October 2022. Protected structures are the main exception, so check with Cork City Council or Cork County Council if your home is listed.
Cork has 6 Solar Safeguarding Zones, set around airfields and helipads: Cork Airport, Cork University Hospital, Bishopstown, Haulbowline, Bantry and Rathcool. The zones do not change the rules for houses. For any other building inside a zone, such as a farm shed, shop or school, the exemption is capped at 300 m² of roof panels and the council must be told in writing within four weeks of work starting.
Areas of Cork covered
Cork is the largest county in Ireland, so check that an installer covers your area before asking for a quote. Many of the 42 Cork-based installers work across the whole county.
- Cork city and suburbs: Ballincollig, Douglas, Carrigaline, Glanmire, Blarney, Bishopstown, Wilton
- East Cork: Midleton, Cobh, Youghal, Carrigtwohill
- North Cork: Mallow, Fermoy, Mitchelstown, Charleville, Kanturk
- West Cork: Bandon, Kinsale, Clonakilty, Skibbereen, Bantry, Macroom, Dunmanway
Solar panel installers in Cork
The most-reviewed solar installers based in Cork, by number of Google reviews:
- ePower: 4.8 (619 reviews)
- 021 Electrician: 5.0 (247 reviews)
- Energywise Savings Ireland LTD: 4.8 (167 reviews)
- Lisavaird Co-Operative Creamery Limited: 4.7 (111 reviews)
- SE Systems: 4.8 (87 reviews)