Businesses, schools, community centres and public sector bodies in Ireland can claim the SEAI Non-Domestic Microgen Grant (NDMG) for commercial solar PV, worth up to €325,200 per installation for new applications made between 6 October 2026 and 6 July 2027, covering systems from 1 kWp up to 1,000 kWp. SEAI has raised the grant to an effective 45% rate for that nine-month window; applications made before 6 October 2026 keep their original, lower offer. It is the business equivalent of the household solar grant, run by SEAI through its online portal, and works on the same rule: apply for a grant offer before you start any work. Miss that step and you lose the grant.
- Scheme: SEAI Non-Domestic Microgen Grant (NDMG)
- Maximum grant: €325,200 (systems of 1,000 kWp and larger), for applications made 6 Oct 2026 to 6 Jul 2027
- Payment: the lower of your grant offer or 45% of the invoiced cost
- Eligible sectors: businesses, agriculture, public sector, schools, community centres, non-profits
- System size range: 1 kWp to 1,000 kWp
- Apply: mgen.seai.ie. Agree a contract first, then apply, and wait for your letter of offer before any work starts
- Installer requirement: must be a Registered SEAI Non-Domestic Microgen (Solar PV) Company
NDMG Grant Amounts by System Size
The grant is calculated per kilowatt peak (kWp) of installed capacity. Below is the enhanced table for new applications made between 6 October 2026 and 6 July 2027, from the SEAI NDMG page, checked 7 October 2026. Above 6 kWp each rate applies only to the kWp inside that band, so a bigger system adds up band by band:
| System size | Grant value | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 kWp | €1,800 | €1,800/kWp |
| 2 kWp | €3,600 | €1,800/kWp |
| 3 kWp | €4,200 | €1,400/kWp |
| 4 kWp | €4,800 | €1,200/kWp |
| 5 kWp | €4,800 | €960/kWp |
| 6 kWp | €4,800 | €800/kWp |
| 7–20 kWp | €4,800 + €600 per kWp above 6 | €600/kWp in this band |
| 21–200 kWp | €13,200 + €400 per kWp above 20 | €400/kWp in this band |
| 201–1,000 kWp | €85,200 + €300 per kWp above 200 | €300/kWp in this band |
| 1,000 kWp and over | €325,200 (max) | Grant capped |
The step-down in rate at 7 kWp matters for small businesses with a modest roof. A 10 kWp system attracts up to €7,200 (€4,800 for the first 6 kWp plus 4 × €600), while a 50 kWp system attracts up to €25,200 (€4,800 + 14 × €600 + 30 × €400). At 1,000 kWp the total is €325,200, and that cap applies to any system above that size too. One more limit: SEAI pays the lower of your grant offer or 45% of the invoiced cost, so a very cheap quote can bring the grant below the table figure.
- First 6 kWp: €4,800
- 7–20 kWp (14 kWp at €600): €8,400
- 21–30 kWp (10 kWp at €400): €4,000
- Total NDMG grant: €17,200 (for applications made 6 Oct 2026 to 6 Jul 2027)
- Typical gross install cost at this size: ~€39,000–€51,000
- Net cost after grant: roughly €21,800–€33,800
Who Can Apply
The scheme is deliberately broad. It covers the whole non-domestic sector:
- Businesses (SMEs, retail, hospitality, industrial)
- Agricultural sector (farms with business electricity use, distinct from the TAMS farm grant)
- Public sector bodies
- Schools and universities
- Community centres
- Non-profit organisations
If you pay commercial electricity rates on a non-domestic tariff, you almost certainly qualify. If you are a farmer looking at panels on farm sheds, see also the TAMS 60% farm solar grant. For some farms, TAMS is the better route; for others, the NDMG is more straightforward. The two are separate schemes with different application portals.
How to Apply
The process has five stages. Stage 3 (ESB Networks connection approval) takes at least four weeks and needs to happen before installation, so the whole process typically runs over two to three months from first contact.
- Find a Registered SEAI NDMG Company. Search the SEAI register. Get quotes from at least two or three registered companies before signing anything.
- Agree a contract, then apply to SEAI online at mgen.seai.ie. Wait for your letter of offer, which is valid for eight months, before any work starts. This is the step most businesses miss. If you sign a contract and let the installer begin before you have the letter, the grant is gone.
- Your installer applies to ESB Networks to connect the system to the grid. Allow at least four weeks (20 working days) for this.
- Installation goes ahead once ESB connection is approved.
- Installer submits documentation to SEAI. Grant payment follows in four to six weeks once SEAI has received all required paperwork. Delays almost always trace to incomplete documentation, so push your installer to upload everything within a few days of completion.
Commercial Solar Panel Costs in Ireland
Installation quotes in Ireland vary by system size, roof type, access and the specific equipment specified. Installer-published figures typically range from roughly €1,300 to €1,700 per kWp installed for commercial systems, which puts common business system sizes in the following ballpark:
| System size | Typical gross cost | NDMG grant | Estimated net cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kWp (small office) | €13,000–€17,000 | €5,850–€7,200 | €7,150–€9,800 |
| 30 kWp (medium premises) | €39,000–€51,000 | €17,200 | €21,800–€33,800 |
| 100 kWp (large facility) | €100,000–€150,000 | €45,000–€45,200 | €55,000–€104,800 |
| 250 kWp (industrial) | €250,000–€400,000 | €100,200 | €149,800–€299,800 |
Grant figures assume an application made between 6 October 2026 and 6 July 2027; where 45% of the cost is lower than the table value (the cheaper 10 kWp and 100 kWp quotes), the 45% figure is shown. These are rough indicative ranges. Get quotes from at least two SEAI-registered companies to price your specific building and usage profile. Flat roofs, asbestos-containing panels, high-rise access, structural surveys and grid upgrade requirements can all push costs higher.
VAT and Tax for Commercial Buyers
Unlike residential solar (which carries 0% VAT in Ireland since May 2023), commercial solar installations are subject to the standard 23% VAT rate. However, VAT-registered businesses can reclaim that VAT in full through their normal VAT return, so the effective net cost for a registered business is the pre-VAT figure after grant. Non-registered entities (some community groups, non-profits) cannot reclaim VAT and should factor the 23% into their net cost calculation.
On the income side, electricity your system exports is treated as a business receipt and taxed as part of trading income. Capital allowances may apply to the installation cost, so speak with your accountant on the most tax-efficient structure for your business.
Exporting Surplus Electricity
Once your system is connected to the ESB Networks grid, any surplus power your business generates and does not use on site is exported and paid for under the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG). Every licensed supplier is obliged to offer a CEG rate; as of mid-2026 rates run between 18c and 21c per kWh exported, depending on your supplier. Export payments are straightforward to set up after installation: your installer handles the ESB connection and your supplier registers you for CEG billing.
For businesses with high daytime consumption (a hotel, a manufacturing plant, a large retail unit), the economics of commercial solar are typically strong: the system runs during exactly the hours the business is consuming electricity, so a large share of generation displaces expensive grid power rather than being exported at a lower rate. A payback period of six to nine years is commonly cited for well-sized commercial systems at current electricity prices, though this varies significantly by site.
NDMG vs the Domestic SEAI Solar Grant
| SEAI NDMG (commercial) | SEAI Domestic Solar Grant | |
|---|---|---|
| For | Businesses, public bodies, schools, non-profits | Private homeowners |
| Maximum grant | €325,200 (applications 6 Oct 2026 to 6 Jul 2027) | €1,800 |
| Max system size | 1,000 kWp | No hard cap on system size |
| Grant rate | Banded scale (€1,800/kWp for the first 2 kWp down to €300/kWp above 200 kWp), capped at 45% of cost | Fixed tiers (up to €1,800 for 4+ kWp) |
| VAT | 23% (reclaimable for VAT-registered businesses) | 0% on supply and installation |
| Apply via | mgen.seai.ie | SEAI homeowner portal |
If you are a homeowner enquiring about solar for your house, see our full SEAI Solar Grant guide and the eligibility rules. The NDMG and the domestic grant are completely separate and cannot be combined for the same premises.
Solar Quotes Ireland connects businesses with SEAI-registered Non-Domestic Microgen installers who understand the NDMG application process. One short form, no obligation, quotes from registered companies.
Get free commercial solar quotes →Frequently Asked Questions
The SEAI Non-Domestic Microgen Grant (NDMG) provides financial assistance for businesses, schools, community groups and public sector bodies to install commercial solar PV. For new applications made between 6 October 2026 and 6 July 2027, the grant ranges from €1,800 for a 1 kWp system up to a maximum of €325,200. Above 6 kWp (€4,800) it adds €600 for each kWp from 7 to 20, €400 for each kWp from 21 to 200 and €300 for each kWp from 201 to 1,000, and it never pays more than 45% of the invoiced cost.
Yes, through the Non-Domestic Microgen Grant, not the homeowner scheme. Eligible applicants include businesses, farms, schools, community centres, public sector bodies and non-profits. You must apply through mgen.seai.ie and receive a letter of offer before any installation work starts.
Commercial solar panels typically cost in the range of €1,300 to €1,700 per kWp installed, so a 30 kWp system for a medium-sized business would run roughly €39,000 to €51,000 before the NDMG grant. Flat-roof access, structural surveys and grid upgrade requirements can affect costs, so always get at least two quotes from SEAI-registered companies.
Yes. 23% standard VAT applies to commercial solar installations, unlike residential solar which carries 0% VAT. However, VAT-registered businesses can reclaim the full VAT through their normal VAT return, so the effective net cost is the pre-VAT figure after grant. Community groups or non-profits that are not VAT-registered cannot reclaim it and should factor the 23% into their budget.
Yes, this is essential. You must apply to SEAI at mgen.seai.ie and receive your letter of offer before any installation begins. If work starts before you receive the offer, the grant is forfeit. The letter is valid for eight months, so there is no rush to install once you have it, but you cannot work backwards from a completed install.
Yes. Once connected to ESB Networks, any surplus electricity your system generates is exported and paid for under the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG). Every licensed supplier must offer a CEG rate; current rates run roughly 18c to 21c per kWh exported. Export payments are taxable business income.
Published: 8 September 2026. Updated 7 October 2026 for the enhanced NDMG rates. The SEAI NDMG grant table (grant values per kWp tier from €1,800 at 1 kWp to a maximum of €325,200 for applications made 6 October 2026 to 6 July 2027, the 45% of invoiced cost limit, the 1,000 kWp system cap, eligible applicant types, and the five-stage application process) is confirmed against the live SEAI Non-Domestic Microgen Grant page (seai.ie/grants/business-grants/commercial-solar-pv) on 7 October 2026. Commercial installation cost ranges are indicative figures drawn from installer-published data and should be verified with SEAI-registered companies. VAT rules confirmed against Revenue.ie; CEG rates are current at time of publication but vary by supplier.