Ireland has approved a new package of energy grants for homes and businesses, effective Oct. 6.

The measures include enhanced support for solar PV, alongside incentives for home heating decarbonization and energy retrofits. A new residential battery grant worth up to €600 ($681) is also being introduced.

Ireland already offers a state-administered grant of up to €1,800 for homeowners installing residential solar panels. From Oct. 6, eligibility will be expanded to include newer homes built and occupied before 2025.

Grants of up to €9,000 will also be introduced for lower-income households installing solar and battery systems, while solar-plus-storage systems will be fully funded for people classed as medically vulnerable. In both cases, funding will cover battery capacities of up to 5 kWh and PV systems of up to 4 kW.

The package also includes a €2,000 grant to encourage households to replace boilers with heat pumps.

Solar Ireland, which represents the country’s solar sector, welcomed the introduction of the residential battery grant.

“We have long called for the reintroduction of support for residential battery storage,” said Solar Ireland CEO Ronan Power. “Batteries allow households to make better use of the solar electricity they generate, reduce reliance on the grid during peak periods and provide greater protection from future energy price volatility.”

The package also includes expanded support for businesses. The Irish government said businesses accessing the enhanced solar PV support could reduce annual energy costs by up to €300,000. Grants for solar thermal systems and heat pumps could also deliver savings of up to 45%.

“Businesses across Ireland are facing significant challenges from high energy costs, and we know that improving competitiveness means helping firms reduce their overheads wherever possible,” said Irish Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke.

William Walsh, CEO of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), the state agency administering the grants, said the organization has recorded a 200% increase in applications for some grants.

“We’ve had unprecedented demand to our programs this year. These new measures are really welcome and will help us reach even more people next year, especially those most in need,” Walsh said.

The measures come ahead of the Irish government’s 2027 budget, which is due to be announced in the coming weeks. Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien said further measures will be considered as part of next year’s budget.

“The government has already introduced more than €1.4 billion in energy affordability measures since March,” he said.