The SEAI heat pump grant in 2026 is worth up to €12,500, covering the heat pump unit itself, an optional heating system upgrade, and a renewable heat bonus paid after 12 months of verified operation. Grant amounts increased on 3 February 2026. Verify current figures on seai.ie before proceeding. This is one of eight SEAI home energy grants available in 2026 — see the full list of SEAI grants for everything else you can claim.
What the SEAI Heat Pump Grant Covers
The grant is made up of three separate components. You do not have to take all three — but most qualifying homes will be eligible for the full amount.
| Grant component | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Heat pump unit grant | €6,500 | Covers the heat pump itself; applies to air-to-water, ground-source, exhaust-air-to-water, and water-to-water systems on SEAI’s approved product list. Air-to-air systems qualify for a lower unit grant of €3,500 — see below. |
| Heating system upgrade grant | €2,000 | Covers associated works — radiators, underfloor heating pipes, hot water cylinder, controls — needed to make the heat pump operate efficiently. Not available for air-to-air systems, which do not heat water. |
| Renewable heat bonus | €4,000 | Paid 12 months after installation, conditional on confirmed operation and switching from oil, gas, solid fuel, or electric storage heating. |
| Maximum total (air-to-water / ground-source) | €12,500 | Includes the renewable heat bonus; €8,500 without it |
| Maximum total (air-to-air) | €7,500 | €3,500 unit grant plus €4,000 renewable heat bonus; no central heating upgrade component |
Source: SEAI Heat Pump Systems Grant page. Amounts effective 3 February 2026. Always verify current figures before applying.
Who Qualifies for the Heat Pump Grant
The eligibility conditions narrow the field considerably. The main requirements are:
- Home built and occupied before 2021. Your home must have been built and occupied on or before 31 December 2020. Homes built from 2021 onwards were required to meet higher building fabric standards under the revised Part L regulations and generally do not qualify. Check seai.ie for full details.
- SEAI-registered heat pump installer. You must use a contractor on SEAI’s registered list. Work completed by an unregistered installer is not grant-eligible, regardless of the quality of the install.
- BER assessment before and after installation. Two BER certificates are required — one to establish the pre-works baseline and one after installation is complete. For homes built before 2007, the Heat Loss Indicator (HLI) must be at or below 2.3 W/(K.m²) — a technical assessment can establish this if you are unsure.
- Heat pump on SEAI’s approved product list. Not every brand or model qualifies. Your installer should confirm the specific unit is approved before quoting.
- Not already connected to district heating. Homes on a district heating network are ineligible.
If your home was built after 2020, a heat pump may still be a worthwhile upgrade — it just will not qualify for the SEAI grant. In that case, compare the total cost without grant support against your current heating bills before committing.
Types of Heat Pumps Covered
The grant applies to four categories of heat pump. The maximum grant amount differs depending on the type:
- Air-to-water heat pumps — the most common type installed in Irish homes (~90% of retrofits). An external unit extracts heat from outside air and uses it to heat water for radiators and the hot water cylinder. Eligible for the full €12,500 grant (unit + heating upgrade + renewable heat bonus).
- Ground-source heat pumps — extract heat from the ground via buried pipes (horizontal loop) or boreholes (vertical). Higher performance in winter but installation is significantly more expensive due to ground works. Eligible for the full €12,500 grant.
- Water-to-water heat pumps — extract heat from a water source such as a well, lake, or river. Limited applicability in typical Irish residential settings. Eligible for the full €12,500 grant.
- Air-to-air heat pumps — provide space heating only and do not heat water, so they are not a direct replacement for an oil or gas central heating system. They qualify for a unit grant of €3,500 (not €6,500) and the €4,000 renewable heat bonus, giving a maximum of €7,500. They are not eligible for the €2,000 central heating upgrade component.
For most Irish homes switching from oil or gas, air-to-water is the appropriate choice and the one that qualifies for the highest grant level.
Heat Pump Grant vs Solar Panel Grant: How Do They Compare?
The two grants are frequently considered together because they serve the same household and are often installed in sequence — or at the same time.
| Heat pump grant | Solar PV grant | |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum grant value | €12,500 | €1,800 |
| Typical installed cost before grant | €10,000–€18,000 | €7,000–€12,000 (4–6 kWp) |
| Typical installed cost after grant | €1,500–€9,500 (depending on bonus) | €5,200–€10,200 |
| Disruption level | High — significant internal works, possible radiator replacement | Low — typically 1–2 days, no internal structural works |
| Can you claim both? | Yes — the two grants are independent and can be stacked | |
The heat pump grant is substantially larger in absolute terms, but the installation is more complex and costly. A 4 kWp solar system after grant can cost €5,200–€7,000 and pays back in 7–10 years on most Irish homes. A heat pump install with full grant can cost as little as €1,500 net after the renewable heat bonus — but only if your home fabric is suitable and you are currently on oil or gas.
The combination of both is increasingly common. Solar panels generate cheap daytime electricity; a heat pump runs most efficiently on electricity. Pairing them reduces running costs on both sides. If you are considering both, the two grants are applied for separately and do not affect each other. See the full breakdown at SEAI Heat Pump and Solar Grant: Can You Claim Both?
SEAI One Stop Shops
SEAI’s One Stop Shop (OSS) scheme is a managed service for homeowners who want someone else to handle the process end to end. An approved One Stop Shop provider carries out the home energy assessment, selects a registered contractor, manages the installation, applies for all SEAI grants on your behalf, and deducts the grant value upfront from what you pay — so you never need to claim it back yourself. You deal with one company rather than coordinating between an installer and the SEAI portal.
One Stop Shops are particularly practical for a full home energy upgrade combining multiple grants — heat pump, insulation, solar, and others. They can also help you access the Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme (minimum loan €5,000) if you need to bridge the gap between the grant and the full installation cost. See our full guide to how the One Stop Shop works, its grant values, and who it suits, or check the current list of approved providers on the SEAI One Stop Shop page.
Solar Quotes Ireland matches you with SEAI-registered solar installers covering your county. If you are exploring solar as part of a wider home energy upgrade, get free quotes from up to four local installers — no fee, no obligation.
Get Free Solar Quotes →Frequently Asked Questions
The SEAI heat pump grant in 2026 is worth up to €12,500 for air-to-water and ground-source systems. It breaks down as: €6,500 for the heat pump unit, €2,000 for a heating system upgrade, and €4,000 as a renewable heat bonus paid after 12 months of operation. Without the renewable heat bonus, the maximum is €8,500. Air-to-air heat pump systems qualify for a maximum of €7,500 (€3,500 unit grant plus the €4,000 bonus). These amounts took effect on 3 February 2026 — verify current figures on seai.ie before applying.
Air-to-water, ground-source, water-to-water, and air-to-air heat pumps all qualify for the SEAI grant, provided the specific unit is on SEAI’s approved product list. Air-to-water systems are eligible for the full €12,500 grant (unit, central heating upgrade, and renewable heat bonus). Air-to-air systems qualify for up to €7,500 — they get a €3,500 unit grant and the €4,000 renewable heat bonus, but are not eligible for the €2,000 central heating upgrade component because they do not heat water or serve radiators. For most homes switching from oil or gas, air-to-water is the right choice.
Yes. The SEAI Solar Electricity Grant (up to €1,800) and the SEAI Heat Pump Grant (up to €12,500) are separate schemes with separate applications. Claiming one does not affect eligibility for the other, and you can apply for both on the same home. Many Irish homeowners are pairing both — solar panels generate cheap daytime electricity that reduces the running cost of the heat pump. See the full breakdown: SEAI Heat Pump and Solar Grant Stack.
Applications are submitted through the SEAI online portal at seai.ie. You will need a pre-works BER assessment, at least one quote from an SEAI-registered heat pump installer, and your MPRN. Works cannot start until SEAI issues a Letter of Offer and you accept it. Alternatively, an SEAI-approved One Stop Shop provider can manage the entire process on your behalf — from survey to grant application — and will deduct the grant value upfront from the cost of your works. See the current list on the SEAI One Stop Shop page.
Sources: SEAI Heat Pump Systems Grant; SEAI One Stop Shop scheme; SEAI: Increased grant amounts for homeowners (3 February 2026). Grant amounts verified as effective 3 February 2026 — check seai.ie for the latest figures.
Published: 28 May 2026. Author: Neil Russell.