The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the solar PV grant scheme to help homeowners install rooftop solar PV equipment. Details of eligibility criteria and how to apply are set out on the SEAI website at www.seai.ie. Under the scheme, a Letter of Offer confirms to the applicant that they have been approved for a grant up to a certain amount, subject to the terms & conditions of the scheme, including a minimum post-works Building Energy Rating (BER) C rating. This minimum requirement reflects the fact that energy efficiency is a key priority in the decarbonisation of energy and reducing emissions, and ensures that an energy efficiency first principle is followed in the allocation of supports. Under the solar PV scheme, applicants have 8 months from the receipt of a Letter of Offer to submit an application for grant payment. Therefore, it may be possible for such applicants to carry out additional retrofit works to achieve a BER C rating, for which SEAI grant supports may be available, within the window available for drawing down grant payment. The works do not have to completed simultaneously, so long as the application for grant payment is submitted within the specified timeframe. The SEAI offers a range of supports to homeowners to enable energy efficiency works be carried out to improve their BER under the Better Energy Homes scheme. The SEAI also administer the National Housing Retrofit and the Community Energy Grants schemes. An applicant's BER assessor would be able to help them determine the most cost effective method of obtaining the minimum required BER C rating, taking into account the range of supports available under the above schemes.
