Home energy upgrade applications rise 96% in first quarter of 2026
Wednesday 8 July 2026
Applications for Irish home energy upgrades rose by 96% in the first quarter of 2026, with 29,000 applications processed by the SEAI.
Applications for Irish home energy upgrades increased by 96% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in the previous year.
Figures from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) show that the authority processed 29,000 applications between January and March 2026. This increase in activity follows the introduction of the National Residential Retrofit Plan 2026, which established new financial supports, including a grant for windows and doors alongside dedicated assistance for first-time buyers.
The Government allocated a record €640 million under Budget 2026 with the objective of delivering 73,000 home energy upgrades over the course of the year.
Specific application categories recorded during the first quarter include:
- Over 10,000 applications for Solar PV, representing a 65% increase year-on-year.
- 225 active applications for the first-time buyer grant, which launched on 2 March 2026.
- 151 active applications for energy-poor grants, which also launched on 2 March 2026.
Additionally, loan products under the scheme are being offered by financial institutions including PTSB, AIB, Bank of Ireland, and multiple credit unions, with interest rates starting from 2.99%.