McAuliffe Welcomes Solar Panel Pilot Under Warmer Homes Scheme and Calls for Expansion

Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin North-West, Paul McAuliffe, has welcomed confirmation from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) that solar photovoltaic (PV) panels are now being installed in a number of homes under the Warmer Homes Scheme. The information was provided to Deputy McAuliffe in response to a Parliamentary Question, which confirmed that the SEAI is piloting the installation of renewable technologies, including heat pumps and solar PV, where major energy renovations are taking place. As of the end of the first quarter of 2026, 70 homes had received solar PV installations through the pilot. Deputy McAuliffe said: "This is a positive development. Solar panels can make a real difference to household energy bills, particularly for lower-income families who are most exposed to rising energy costs." "The Warmer Homes Scheme has already transformed thousands of homes by improving insulation and energy efficiency. Adding solar generation is the next logical step and can help families reduce their reliance on expensive imported energy." Deputy McAuliffe said that while the pilot is welcome, the Government should now examine how solar PV can be incorporated more widely into retrofit programmes. "Seventy homes is an encouraging start, but it is only a small fraction of the households benefiting from State-supported retrofits each year. If the pilot proves successful, we should move quickly towards making solar PV a standard option as part of major energy upgrades." "The cheapest energy is the energy we don't use, but the next best thing is energy generated on your own roof. Every household that can generate a portion of its own electricity helps reduce bills, strengthen energy security and support our climate targets." Deputy McAuliffe said he looks forward to seeing the results of the pilot and urged the Government and SEAI to bring forward proposals to expand the scheme in the coming years.