Solar panels to receive VAT drop in aim to boost uptake

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The Department estimates that if this VAT rate cut is passed onto consumers, the average solar installation cost should fall from €9,000 to €8,000, at a cost of €19m to the exchequer. They further estimate that this will reduce the payback period for installation from 7 to 6.2 years.

Minister for Finance Michael McGrath said he believes the significant reduction in the installation cost “will encourage more people to avail of this innovative technology.”

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan said that, along with removing planning requirements to install solar panels on residential homes, “this move… is yet another step on Ireland’s journey to cleaner, cheaper, renewable energy.”

Department figures indicate that currently over 50,000 Irish homes have solar panels with 17,000 installations in just the last year. “This is expected to increase further as prices come down and solar becomes more mainstream,” said Minister Ryan.