New from 6 October: a €600 battery grant, and up to 45% for businesses, farms and schools. See what you can get057 937 4247 · info@clearskyenergy.ie
A roof with black solar panels seen from directly above
Home › How it works

From the first call to switch-on

What happens, in order, and what we need from you along the way.

The seven steps

  1. Day 1

    You get in touch

    One of the team rings you back, usually within one working day.

  2. Within a week or two

    Free site survey

    We check the roof, fuse board, meter and attic, and look at your electricity bills.

  3. A few days after the survey

    A written proposal

    A fixed price, the system design and the grant you may get. Free, with no obligation.

  4. Before any work starts

    Your SEAI grant

    You apply online and wait for the Letter of Offer. No work starts before it arrives, and we help with every step.

  5. We do this for you

    ESB Networks

    We notify ESB Networks: an NC6 form for systems up to 6 kW single-phase (11 kW three-phase), or an NC7 application and ESB approval for larger systems.

  6. Usually 1 to 2 days on site

    Installation

    Roofers fit the mounting and panels; electricians fit the inverter, battery and isolators, test everything and set up the app with you.

  7. Usually 4 to 6 weeks after it’s complete

    Paperwork and the grant

    Certification, a post-works BER and the grant paperwork. SEAI pays the grant.

What we need from you

  • A recent electricity bill (the MPRN is on it).
  • Access to the fuse board, the meter and the attic.
  • Somewhere to park, and a short power-off on install day.
Install day

What a typical install day looks like

Early

Access set up, roof protected, kit unloaded and checked.

Morning

Roofers fit the mounting and panels.

Midday

Electricians fit the inverter, battery and isolators, and run the cables.

Afternoon

Connection, testing and labelling. A short power-off.

Before we go

Commissioned, the app set up with you, and the isolators shown to you.

Bigger systems and ground-mounts can take a second day.

Questions we’re asked

Do solar panels work well in Ireland?
Yes. Panels make electricity from daylight, not heat, so they work on cloudy days too, just less. SEAI says a well-placed 3 kWp system makes about 2,600 kWh a year in Ireland, with about three-quarters of that between May and September.
What grants can I get?
Up to €1,800 for panels and €600 for a battery of 5 kWh or more, so up to €2,400. Up to €9,000 if you get a qualifying social welfare payment. Homes must have been built and lived in before 2025. Every grant explained.
How much does a system cost?
It depends on your roof, your electricity use and whether you want a battery, so we give a fixed written price after a free survey. Our calculator gives you a guide in a minute.
How long does the installation take?
Most homes take 1 to 2 days on site. You don’t need to take the day off, but we’ll need access to the fuse board and a short power-off.
My roof faces north, or it’s shaded. Can I still have solar?
East and west roofs work well. North roofs make noticeably less, so we only recommend them if the design shows it’s worth it. A garage roof or a ground-mount array is often the better answer.
Do I need planning permission?
Not for panels on the roof of a house, whatever the size, as long as they’re at least 50 cm from the edge of the roof and no more than 15 cm above it. Protected structures and architectural conservation areas are different, and we check that at the survey.
Can I add a battery or EV charger later?
Yes. We design systems so they can take a battery or charger later, and a battery added later can still get the €600 grant.
How do I pay?
Usually a €1,000 deposit to book the install, and the balance when it’s finished. Many customers use a credit union green home loan.
Can I change my mind?
Yes. Contracts agreed at your home, by phone or by email have a 14-day cooling-off period, and we explain this when we agree the job.
All-black solar panels on a bungalow roof under an Irish sky

Ready to see what solar would do for your home?

A free survey, a design and a fixed written price, with the SEAI grant worked out.