Sizing · checked 2 November 2026
How many solar panels do I need?
Most homes need 8 to 12 panels: Selectra puts a 2-bed terrace at 8 and a 4-bed detached house at 12. On a south roof in Tralee, 10 panels (4.85kWp) make about 4,250 kWh a year, close to the 4,200 kWh the energy regulator uses for a typical home.
- 8 to 12 panels for most homes (Selectra)
- Grant grows to €1,800 at 4kWp
- One installer rings you, not a list
Last checked 2 November 2026: SEAI grant rules (scheme guide v6.0) and Purevolt's and Selectra's published prices, read at source. Output from EU PVGIS and weather from Met Éireann, read 29 October 2026.
How much does each system make in Kerry?
Most homes need 8 to 12 panels: Selectra puts a 2-bed terrace at 8 and a 4-bed detached house at 12. On a south roof in Tralee, 10 panels (4.85kWp) make about 4,250 kWh a year, close to the 4,200 kWh the energy regulator uses for a typical home.
| System | Cahersiveen | Tralee | Killarney | Share of 4,200 kWh, Tralee | SEAI grant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels3.88kWp | 3,480 | 3,400 | 3,130 | 81% | €1,776 |
| 10 panels4.85kWp | 4,350 | 4,250 | 3,910 | 101% | €1,800 |
| 12 panels5.82kWp | 5,220 | 5,100 | 4,690 | 121% | €1,800 |
| 16 panels7.76kWp | 6,960 | 6,800 | 6,260 | 162% | €1,800 |
kWh a year on a south roof, from EU PVGIS 5.2. Systems are Purevolt's published sizes. The 4,200 kWh typical home is the regulator's standard figure, set in 2017 (bonkers.ie, on the regulator's 4,200 kWh standard). Grant from SEAI Solar PV Scheme Application Guide, v6.0, 12 Oct 2026. Checked 2 November 2026.
Which size suits which house?
Selectra's guide puts a 3-bed semi at 10 panels (4.4kWp) and a 4-bed detached at 12 (5.3kWp).
| Home | Typical cost after grant |
|---|---|
| Small terraced4 panels, 1.76kWp | €4,800 |
| 2-bed terraced8 panels, 3.5kWp | €5,901 |
| 3-bed semi-detached10 panels, 4.4kWp | €6,145 |
| 4-bed detached12 panels, 5.3kWp | €7,400 |
| 6-bed detached16 panels, 7kWp | €8,700 |
From Selectra, updated 12 Sep 2026. Batteries not included. SEAI says installation typically costs €1,700 to €2,500 per kWp (SEAI, Solar Electricity Grant).
Why not cover the whole roof?
Because the grant stops at 4kWp and spare summer power sells for about half what you pay for a unit.
- The SEAI panel grant grows to €1,800 at 4kWp and no further (SEAI Solar PV Scheme Application Guide, v6.0, 12 Oct 2026).
- 10 panels in Tralee make about 525 kWh in June and 125 in December (EU PVGIS 5.2). Extra panels add most in summer, when you already have spare.
- Exports earn 15.89c to 19.5c a kWh on standard plans (WattCharger, Aug 2026); power you use saves 36c to 45c per kWh (Irish Times, 15 Oct 2026).
- An electric car, a heat pump or a battery changes the sums: they use more of what the panels make.
FAQ
Quick answers
How many solar panels do I need in Kerry?
Most homes need 8 to 12 panels: Selectra puts a 2-bed terrace at 8 and a 4-bed detached house at 12. On a south roof in Tralee, 10 panels (4.85kWp) make about 4,250 kWh a year, close to the 4,200 kWh the energy regulator uses for a typical home. (Selectra, updated 12 Sep 2026; EU PVGIS 5.2; bonkers.ie, on the regulator's 4,200 kWh standard)
How many panels does the SEAI grant cover?
The grant grows up to 4kWp, about 8 panels at today's wattages, and stops at €1,800 (SEAI Solar PV Scheme Application Guide, v6.0, 12 Oct 2026). You can fit more; the extra panels just don't get more grant.
Will 10 panels cover my bill in winter?
No. 10 panels in Tralee make about 525 kWh in June but only 125 in December (EU PVGIS 5.2), so you still buy power in winter.
Is it worth fitting more panels than I use?
Only if the roof suits it. Exported power earns 15.89c to 19.5c a kWh (WattCharger, Aug 2026), against the 36c to 45c per kWh you save on power you use yourself (Irish Times, 15 Oct 2026).
How much roof do the panels need?
Panels on a pitched roof can't stick up more than 15 cm and must stay 50 cm from the edge to be exempt from planning (S.I. No. 493 of 2022, Planning and Development (Exempted Development) (No. 4) Regulations). The installer measures the roof.
Keep reading
More on solar in Kerry
- Solar panel cost in Kerry
- The SEAI solar grant
- Solar batteries in Kerry
- Solar panel installers in Kerry
- Ground-mounted solar panels
- Kerry towns compared
- Solar panels in Tralee876 kWh per kWp a year
- Solar panels in Killarney806 kWh per kWp a year
- Solar panels in Listowel872 kWh per kWp a year
- Solar panels in Kenmare852 kWh per kWp a year
- Solar panels in Dingle894 kWh per kWp a year
- Solar panels in Castleisland849 kWh per kWp a year
- Solar panels in Killorglin838 kWh per kWp a year
- Solar panels in Cahersiveen897 kWh per kWp a year
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Where these numbers come from (15 public sources, checked 2 November 2026)
- Irish Times, 15 Oct 2026
- SEAI Solar PV Scheme Application Guide, v6.0, 12 Oct 2026
- Grant Thornton
- Selectra, updated 12 Sep 2026
- Irish Times, 25 Sep 2026
- Solar Safeguarding Zone data, Dept of Housing
- Pager Power, quoting the Oireachtas housing committee
- gov.ie, 7 Oct 2022
- Kerry County Council conservation areas, data.gov.ie
- ESB Networks
- Met Éireann, Valentia 1991–2020 averages
- EU PVGIS 5.2
- bonkers.ie, on the regulator's 4,200 kWh standard
- S.I. No. 493 of 2022, Planning and Development (Exempted Development) (No. 4) Regulations
- SEAI, Solar Electricity Grant
Sources (2)
Prices and facts on this page were checked against these published pages. We are not connected to these businesses.
- Purevolt: purevolt.ie
- WattCharger, Aug 2026: wattcharger.com