Large Changes to Many SEAI Grant Programmes

Grants values, rules, and requirements have either been changed or will next month for many home energy improvement programmes run by the SEAI.

Author

Briain Kelly
February 04, 2026

Inside this Edition:

  • Changes to Many SEAI Grant Programmes

  • Mineral Wool Insulation Explained

  • EVs surpass Petrol & Diesel in New Car Market Share

  • Kirsty Explains Solar Panel Grants

  • Solar Power & EV Charging

Tens of thousands of homes are getting solar panels every year. See how much you can save with a quote from Ireland’s top installers - check their prices now.

Large Changes to SEAI Grant Programmes

To make energy efficiency home improvements more accessible to everyone, many changes have been made or will soon be made to different grant programmes.

The National Residential Retrofitting Plan 2026 outlines how the value of numerous grants for insulation and heat pumps is increasing.

The rules and requirements for many schemes are also being changed, and enhanced grants are being introduced for specific cohorts.

Large Changes to Energy Efficiency Grants Programmes - Energy Efficiency

The numerous grant schemes available for home energy improvements have been updated to include new grant levels and changes to other rules and requirements.

energyefficiency.ie/blog/large-changes-to-energy-efficiency-grants-programmes

Mineral Wool Insulation Explained

Mineral wool is one of the most widely used insulation materials in home retrofitting by installers today.

But what exactly is mineral wool, how is it made, and what makes it so versatile for different home insulation projects? Read more in our guide below.

Mineral wool insulation and its uses in your home | EnergyEfficiency.ie

Read our guide to how mineral wool is made, what makes it a good insulation, and how it can be used to make your home more energy efficient.

energyefficiency.ie/blog/mineral-wool-insulation

Electric Cars Overtake Petrol & Diesel in New Car Market Share

2026 got off to a strong start for electric cars, with both Hybrids and fully Battery Electric Vehicles exceeding fossil fuel car sales for the first time.

January 2026 New Car Market Share

  1. Hybrid (Petrol/Electric): 28.28%

  2. Battery Electric: 21.15%

  3. Petrol: 20.29%

  4. Plug-in Hybrid: 14.56%

  5. Diesel: 12.48%

Kirsty Explains Solar Panel Grants

If you’re interested in getting solar panels for your home, then Kirsty wants you to know that you don’t have to handle the entire bill yourself. SEAI grants can help you with the cost of investing in solar PV power.

@energy.efficiency.ie

That summer light in the west of Ireland does more than look good 🌞 Solar panels can quietly turn daylight into electricity — and there’s ... See more

Solar Power & EV Charging at Home

An ever growing number of homes in Ireland have EV chargers installed, and even more have gotten home solar panels. Both of these can save you a great deal of money on electricity, but you can potentially save even more by combining the two.

Many EV chargers these days are capable of interfacing with solar panels to charge your electric car using completely free, green power.

Read more about how solar power can work together with EV charging.

Solar EV Charging: Save Money & Get Free Miles | EnergyEfficiency.ie

Charge your EV for free with solar energy. Find out which home chargers work best with PV, and see how to maximise your savings on electricity bills.

energyefficiency.ie/electric-vehicles/solar-charging

We hope that you found this week’s article interesting and informative. If you want to keep learning about the latest technologies driving Ireland’s green transformation, then keep reading. Until the next edition.

Briain Kelly,