Planning Permission Ireland

Heating, Ventilation and Renewables — Heat Pump, Underfloor, MVHR and Solar PV for an Irish Self-Build

Last updated 30/6/2026 · Reviewed 30/6/2026
On this page

A 6 kW air-to-water heat pump costs €8,500 (after the €6,500 SEAI grant + €3,500 bonus you may qualify for). MVHR recovers 70–90% of the heat you'd otherwise throw away.

[@portabletext/react] Unknown block type "span", specify a component for it in the `components.types` prop

When this matters most

You're specifying heating and ventilation at detailed design, or retrofitting an old heating system.

When this doesn't apply

Heat pump commissioned, BER cert done, system in service.

Sources

SEAI, Heat Pump and Solar PV Grants 2026. https://www.seai.ie/grants/

Building Regulations 2023, TGD Part F (Ventilation) and Part L (Conservation of fuel and energy). https://www.gov.ie/

NSAI, I.S. EN 16798 — Indoor environmental input parameters. https://www.nsai.ie/

Your options at a glance

Air-to-water heat pump

The default 2026 Irish heating system. Takes heat from outside air and lifts it to feed underfloor heating and the hot water cylinder. SEAI grant applies.

Cost
€8,500–€15,000 installed
SEAI grant
€6,500 + up to €3,500 bonus
Net cost
€2,000–€8,500
Best paired with
Underfloor heating
BER ceiling
A1 with fabric + MVHR

Best for A fabric-first self-build targeting BER A1, with underfloor heating on the ground floor.

Avoid if Your fabric is weak (wall U-value >0.20, airtightness >5). The heat pump will be oversized, short-cycle, and expensive to run.

Ground-source heat pump (GSHP)

Same principle as air-to-water but takes heat from a borehole. Higher efficiency, quieter, much more expensive — needs space for drilling.

Cost
€18,000–€30,000 installed + €4,000–€8,000 borehole
SEAI grant
€6,500
Net cost
€11,500–€23,500
Best paired with
Underfloor heating
BER ceiling
A1 / Passive House

Best for Large houses (200+ m²) with a big garden (1+ acre for the borehole), where the efficiency gain pays back the premium.

Avoid if You have a 150 m² house on a tight plot. The borehole costs don't amortise over the smaller heat load.

MVHR (Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery)

Not a heating system, but inseparable from a heat-pump build. Two fans, a heat exchanger, ductwork. Recovers 70–90% of the heat in extract air.

Cost
€4,000–€8,000 installed
Heat recovered
70–90% of extract-air heat
Best paired with
Any airtight home + heat pump
BER ceiling
Required for A1 / Passive House
Maintenance
Filter change every 6–12 months

Best for Any airtight self-build. Without MVHR, an airtight home has stale air, condensation, and mould.

Avoid if You're building a draughty traditional build (rare in 2026) where natural ventilation is acceptable. Even then, MVHR typically pays back in 8–12 years.

Air-to-water heat pump: outdoor unit → underfloor heating + cylinder.
Air-to-water heat pump system showing an outdoor unit with a fan connected via refrigerant flow pipes to an indoor unit, which feeds a tall vertical hot water cylinder and an underfloor heating loop in the floor.

Air-to-water heat pump: outdoor unit → underfloor heating + cylinder.

MVHR: extract from wet rooms, supply to living rooms, heat recovered.
MVHR system schematic showing a house with extract ducts from wet rooms (bathroom, kitchen) on the left rising to a central MVHR unit in the loft, and supply ducts going down to living rooms (bedroom, lounge) on the right, with stale air exhausted out and fresh air drawn in from outside.

MVHR: extract from wet rooms, supply to living rooms, heat recovered.

Solar PV: roof panels → inverter → house consumption + export.
Solar PV system showing six rectangular roof-mounted solar panels with DC cables descending to a wall-mounted inverter, which then sends AC electricity to both house consumption (appliances) and grid export (transmission pylon).

Solar PV: roof panels → inverter → house consumption + export.

Quick decision matrix

If your situation isThen choose
BER target is A2A heat pump alone (6 kW) with average fabric: possible
BER target is A1A heat pump + MVHR + 6 kWp solar + airtightness ≤2 m³/m²·hr
Passive HouseA heat pump + MVHR + 8 kWp solar + airtightness ≤0.6 m³/m²·hr
Site is rural with cheap electricity accessAdd solar PV for running cost. Don't oversize the battery upfront
Hot water demand is high (4+ bedrooms)Heat pump cylinder (300 L) or solar thermal primary
All-electric home requiredNo oil, no gas — heat pump + solar PV + solar thermal

Frequently asked questions

How much does a heat pump cost in Ireland in 2026?

Air-to-water heat pump: €8,500–€15,000 installed for a 6–9 kW system. After SEAI grant (€6,500 + potential €3,500 bonus): €2,000–€8,500 net cost.

What is MVHR?

Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery. Two fans, a heat exchanger. Extracts stale air from kitchen/bathroom, pulls in fresh air from outside. The heat exchanger recovers 70–90% of the heat that would otherwise be lost. A must for airtight homes.

How much does solar PV cost?

6 kWp system: €9,000–€13,000 installed (2026 prices). Check SEAI for current schemes.

Is underfloor heating worth it?

On an ICF, slab, or raft foundation with screed — yes, cheap and effective. On a suspended timber floor — yes but costs more.

What's the best BER rating I can realistically hit?

A1 with a fabric-first design and a heat pump. A1 + cost-effective: well-insulated ICF or timber frame with passive design orientation.

When this matters most

You're specifying heating and ventilation at detailed design, or retrofitting an old heating system.

When this doesn't apply

Heat pump commissioned, BER cert done, system in service.

Briefs in this stage

13 in-depth answers for this stage of the build. Pick the one that matches your question.

Where to go next

Next decision

The next step in your build sequence.

Branch into

Adjacent decisions at the same stage.

Watch out for

Common mistakes, hidden costs, gotchas.

Compare with

Alternative approaches worth knowing.