Record Number Of Solar Panels In Wicklow

Look to the skies…

atest press release from Steven Matthews TD, issued on Friday, August 8th 2024…

Green TD Steven Matthews has welcomed the record number of solar PV panels installed in Wicklow homes over the last year.

Statistics from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) reveal that 1,663 homes in Wicklow have installed solar panels since 2023. This is the highest number of solar upgrades installed in a single year since records began in 2015.

“Wicklow is leading the way in the solar revolution with 1,663 solar PV panels installed over last year. This is nearly seven times the number installed between 2015 and 2019. There has never been such a strong level of demand for solar PV across households in Wicklow. As a Green Party TD, I have progressed measures to accelerate the roll-out of solar PV in Wicklow.

“The Green Party have made it easier and cheaper than ever before to install solar PV. I worked directly with Minister Eamon Ryan on the new micro-generation scheme which enables households to get paid for the extra energy that they send back to the grid. You no longer have to apply for planning permission to install solar PV, you don’t have to pay VAT on solar panels and the SEAI provides grants of up to €2,100 for the installation of solar PV.

“We are accelerating the transition to renewable energy in Ireland. Just a few years ago, only a minority of homes had solar panels. Now we are supporting thousands of households across the country to lower their energy bills and reduce carbon emissions through installing solar PV.

“I would highly recommend anyone considering installing solar panels to visit the SEAI website where you can find all the relevant information on grants,” Deputy Matthews concluded.