Should Solar Panels Be Mandatory on All New Homes?

An increasing number of Irish households are opting to install solar panels on their rooftops to slash their electricity bills and reduce their carbon footprint.

But with electricity prices in Ireland still among the highest in Europe and an urgent need to cut our dependency on fossil fuels, should developers be required to install solar panels on new homes?

All new homes in England will be legally required to have a solar panel installation by 2027, which will add an estimated €3,500 to €4,500 to building costs.

However, the measure will save English households around €1,000 per year on their energy bills.

The majority of people in Ireland think that the Irish government should follow suit with a similar policy, with 81% of 570 people polled by EnergyEfficiency.ie voicing their support for mandatory solar panels on new builds here.

Some who were opposed to the idea expressed concerns about potential increases to already expensive house prices, while others said that people should be left to make their own decisions.

However, among the 470 respondents who were in favour of the proposal, many highlighted the many environmental and financial benefits of solar.

Renewable energy expert Briain Kelly of EnergyEfficiency.ie said that Ireland will have to implement a law mandating solar panels on new homes before the end of the decade.

“The EU’s Solar Energy Strategy, adopted into law in March 2024, sets legally binding targets for the integration of solar panels into new buildings starting from next year,” said Mr Kelly.

New public and commercial buildings with a ‘useful floor space’ of 250m² or more must install solar panels from 2026, and existing buildings must do the same by 2027.

“New homes will be required by EU law to come with rooftop solar panels by 2029. But why should we wait until practically the end of the decade to take this positive action?”

Mr Kelly said that currently, the main incentive for people to install rooftop solar panels is the SEAI’s Solar PV grant, which offers up to €1,800 for a solar installation.

“One major weakness in the grant programme is that only properties which were built and occupied before 2021,” he said.

“There is a reason for this: prioritising government spending on making older homes more energy efficient rather than newer homes, which already come with more stringent energy efficiency requirements.”

“However, it does leave a growing body of homes in Ireland which are not eligible for the SEAI grant if people want to make their homes even more energy efficient.”

Mr Kelly said that domestic electricity consumption will likely increase as electricity becomes the main source of power for heating, replacing gas and oil boilers.

“Older homes, not suitable for a heat pump without massive renovations, may find it easier to replace an old gas or oil boiler with an electric boiler which is much less efficient than a heat pump and uses considerably more energy,” he said.

“The growing adoption of electric vehicles will also see the amount of electricity used in our homes skyrocket.”