What is SEAI and why do these grants exist?
SEAI — the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland — is the government body responsible for promoting sustainable energy in Ireland. It runs the national home energy grant schemes on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.
The grants exist because Ireland has committed to reducing household carbon emissions under the Climate Action Plan. Most Irish homes — particularly older ones built before the 1980s — are poorly insulated and rely on fossil fuels for heating. Upgrading them is expensive, so the government subsidises a large share of the cost to make it financially worthwhile for homeowners.
The scheme covers a wide range of upgrades: insulation, heat pumps, solar panels, heating controls, and whole-home retrofits. Grants are available to homeowners and, in some cases, landlords. They are paid directly to you after the work is completed by an SEAI-registered contractor — you cannot claim for work already done.
The grants — what you can get
Figures shown are maximum grant amounts from the SEAI Better Energy Homes scheme. Always verify current amounts at seai.ie before planning work.
Solar PV Panels
Up to €1,800- What it covers
A rooftop solar electricity system (photovoltaic panels) that generates electricity from sunlight, reducing your reliance on the grid.
- Who qualifies
- Homeowners with a home built before 2021. The property must be your principal private residence. Work must be carried out by an SEAI-registered contractor.
- Pro-rata by system size — €700/kWp for first 2kWp, €200/kWp thereafter. Max 4kWp.
Heat Pump System
Up to €6,500- What it covers
Replaces an oil or gas boiler with an air-to-water or ground-source heat pump. Heat pumps are 3–4 times more efficient than oil boilers and run on electricity.
- Who qualifies
- Homeowners whose home has a BER of B3 or above, or who are undertaking a full retrofit to reach B3. Property must have been built and occupied before 2021.
Attic Insulation
Up to €1,500- What it covers
Insulating your attic floor or roof slope to reduce heat loss through the roof — typically the biggest single source of heat loss in Irish homes.
- Who qualifies
- Homeowners in properties built and occupied before 2011. Work must be done by an SEAI-registered contractor.
- Check seai.ie for current amounts — figures are reviewed periodically.
Cavity Wall Insulation
Up to €1,700- What it covers
Filling the gap between the inner and outer leaves of a cavity wall with insulating material. Suitable for most Irish homes built from the 1930s onwards.
- Who qualifies
- Homeowners in properties built and occupied before 2011 with unfilled cavity walls. An SEAI-registered contractor must assess suitability first.
- Check seai.ie for current amounts — figures are reviewed periodically.
Internal Wall Insulation
Up to €4,500- What it covers
Adding insulation to the inside surface of external walls — used where external insulation is not feasible (e.g. terraced houses, protected structures).
- Who qualifies
- Homeowners in properties built before 2011 where the external wall construction does not suit cavity or external insulation.
- Check seai.ie for current amounts — figures are reviewed periodically.
External Wall Insulation
Up to €8,000- What it covers
Wrapping the outside of your home in an insulating layer — the most effective wall insulation option for solid-wall homes with no cavity.
- Who qualifies
- Homeowners in properties built before 2011 with solid walls (no cavity). Can be combined with other Better Energy Homes grants in the same application.
- Check seai.ie for current amounts — figures are reviewed periodically.
Heating Controls Upgrade
Up to €700- What it covers
Installing a programmer, room thermostat, and thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) — simple controls that can reduce heating bills by 15–20%.
- Who qualifies
- Homeowners in properties built before 2011. Often the quickest and cheapest energy upgrade available.
BER Assessment
Typically €150–€300- What it covers
A Building Energy Rating (BER) assessment evaluates your home's energy efficiency and assigns a rating from A1 (best) to G (least efficient). It is a starting point for planning any energy upgrade.
- Who qualifies
- Any homeowner can commission a BER assessment. You must use an SEAI-registered BER assessor.
- BER assessments are paid directly to the assessor. They are not grant-funded as a standalone item, but the cost is often included in One Stop Shop retrofit packages.
SEAI One Stop Shop — whole-home retrofit
If your home needs multiple upgrades — insulation, heating system, windows — the One Stop Shop is a managed pathway that coordinates everything in a single project. A registered One Stop Shop provider handles the survey, design, contractor management, and grant paperwork on your behalf. Grant amounts under this route are higher than individual Better Energy Homes grants, and a low-interest Home Energy Upgrade Loan is available to cover the balance. It is the recommended route for homes needing a BER upgrade of two or more ratings.
Warmer Homes Scheme — for households on social welfare
The Warmer Homes Scheme is a separate programme for households on qualifying means-tested social welfare payments (including Fuel Allowance, Job Seeker's Allowance, and others). Unlike the Better Energy Homes scheme, upgrades under Warmer Homes are provided free of charge — there is no co-payment required. Typical upgrades include attic and wall insulation, draught-proofing, and heating controls. The scheme is administered by SEAI but delivered by contractors working directly with the scheme; homeowners do not need to source their own contractor.
How to plan your energy upgrade
Where to start and how to make the most of what's available.
Start with a BER assessment
A BER certificate tells you where your home currently sits on the A–G scale and which elements are dragging down your rating. This makes it much easier to prioritise which upgrades will deliver the biggest improvement. Most SEAI-registered assessors will also give informal advice on what to tackle first.
One upgrade vs. full retrofit
If your home is broadly in good condition and just needs one or two improvements, the Better Energy Homes individual grants are the simplest route. If you need a BER upgrade of two or more ratings — or want to replace your oil boiler entirely — the One Stop Shop pathway offers higher grants and a managed process that removes the coordination burden from you.
Grants can be combined
Under Better Energy Homes, you can apply for multiple grants in a single application. For example, external wall insulation, attic insulation, and a heating controls upgrade can all be approved together. Combining upgrades in one project often reduces the total contractor cost compared to doing them separately.
SEAI-registered contractors only
Grant payments are only made for work carried out by contractors registered with SEAI for the specific measure. Before signing any contract or paying any deposit, confirm your contractor's registration status on the SEAI website. Using an unregistered contractor — even a good one — means no grant.
Common questions
Answers to what homeowners most commonly ask about SEAI grants.
Can I get multiple SEAI grants at once?▾
Yes. Under the Better Energy Homes scheme you can apply for multiple individual grants in one application — for example, attic insulation, external wall insulation, and a heating controls upgrade can all be combined. However, grants for the same measure cannot be claimed twice. Some upgrades (such as a heat pump) require your home to meet a minimum BER first, which may mean doing insulation work before applying for a heat pump grant.
Do I need a BER certificate to apply?▾
For most Better Energy Homes individual grants (insulation, heating controls), you do not need a BER certificate before applying. However, the heat pump grant requires a post-works BER of B3 or above. For the One Stop Shop deep retrofit pathway, a pre-works BER assessment is part of the process. SEAI recommends getting a BER done first regardless — it helps identify the most cost-effective upgrades for your specific home.
How long does it take to get the grant payment?▾
After your contractor completes the work and submits the application, SEAI typically processes payments within 4–6 weeks. The grant is paid directly to the homeowner, not the contractor — though many contractors will factor it into the quote and manage the paperwork on your behalf. Processing times can be longer during peak periods.
Does the grant apply to rental properties?▾
Some SEAI grants are available to landlords as well as homeowners, but eligibility varies by scheme. Under Better Energy Homes, landlords can apply for insulation and heating controls grants. The Warmer Homes Scheme is restricted to owner-occupiers on qualifying social welfare payments. If you are a landlord, check the eligibility criteria on seai.ie before commissioning work — you will need to confirm the property is rented.
What happens if I've already started the work?▾
SEAI grants cannot be applied retrospectively to work that has already started or been completed. You must apply for approval before the contractor begins. This is a firm rule — starting work before receiving grant approval will disqualify you from the grant for that measure. The only exception is in emergency situations; contact SEAI directly if you face an urgent scenario.
Is there a grant for replacing an old oil boiler?▾
There is no direct grant for replacing an oil boiler with a newer oil boiler — SEAI's policy direction is away from fossil fuel systems. However, if you replace your oil boiler with a heat pump, you can receive up to €6,500 through the Better Energy Homes heat pump grant. The Heating Controls Upgrade grant (up to €700) applies to any heating system, including oil boilers, when adding programmers and thermostatic radiator valves.
Explore related pages
- →Solar panels in IrelandCosts, grants, payback period, and finding an installer.
- →Heat pumpsHow they work, SEAI grants available, and whether your home qualifies.
- →BER certificatesWhat they are, the legal requirement, and how to get one.
- →Insulation grantsHow insulation upgrades affect your BER rating and heating bills.
- →Electricity prices IrelandCurrent electricity rates and how solar can reduce what you pay.