The capital grant scheme under the Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is open to houses built prior to 2021. The solar PV pilot grant scheme transitioned to the MSS scheme in February 2022, and the minimum BER C3 requirement was removed and the eligibility of homes was changed from those built prior to 2011, to those built prior to 2021. This has already significantly increased access to the scheme. New houses must be in compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations, which relates to the energy performance of buildings requirements. There are options to meet this requirement under the standard by including heat pumps and/or solar PV. Targeting the grant scheme at existing homes ensures that the grants available through the SEAI maximise emission reductions and deliver energy savings for the widest range of homeowners possible. Since 2018, the SEAI has supported the installation of domestic Solar PV systems for over 12,000 homes, and with demand for the domestic Solar PV grant increasing significantly throughout the year, we expect that grant applications will exceed 12,000 in 2022 alone. While the level of interest in the MSS indicates that the scheme is working well, its operation and effectiveness will, like all such schemes, be kept under review and adjustments made where necessary.
