Mayo households have invested €32.9 million in home solar PV panels

A NEW report released this week has revealed fresh insights into the cost, size, and adoption of solar panels by households in Mayo and across Ireland.

The EnergyEfficiency.ie report analysed over 100,000 Solar PV Scheme grant-supported installations nationwide, finding that home solar panel systems in Mayo are 66.5% larger on average than in 2020.

One in every 18 homes in Mayo (5.5%) received a Solar PV Scheme grant between 2020 and 2025, with a total of 2,861 installations.

The average cost per kilowatt peak (kWp) of solar in Mayo fell from €2,565 to just €1,634 over the period (-36.3%). Figures include the additional cost of battery storage in around half of installations.

In 2025, the average system size in the county was 6.7 kWp (about 15 panels). This is compared to just 4 kWp in 2020.

Mayo households invested €32.9 million in home solar PV panels, supported by just over €6.2 million in SEAI grant funding.

Commenting on the report, editor of EnergyEfficiency.ie, Briain Kelly, said that there have been extremely positive changes in the market for solar panels in Ireland since 2020.

“Mayo homeowners who installed solar panels in 2020 were faced with a 10-year payback period. This has decreased to no more than six years for most households in 2026,” he said.

“But we must ensure that the momentum achieved in the first half of this decade is not lost, as there are still more than 1 million homes suitable for solar across Ireland.

“With rising energy prices driven by global instability, the value of generating your own electricity has never been higher.”

Read the full 2026 EnergyEfficiency.ie Home Solar PV Report here.