Ireland removes permit requirements for rooftop solar

Ireland has adopted changes under which planning permission is no longer required for the installation of solar panels on the roofs of most buildings in the country.

The revised regulations were signed into law last week by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien. The exemptions, aimed at boosting Ireland’s solar generation and fighting climate change, come into effect immediately.

Houses, in particular, will be able to install rooftop solar without any requirement for planning permission, no matter where they are located in the country. Certain restrictions will remain in place such as for installations close to aviation sites, protected structures and Architectural Conservation Areas.

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, this week welcomed the changes. “The regulations remove a major barrier to those wishing to install solar PV, and will facilitate an even greater number of households, schools, communities, farmers and businesses, among others, to produce their own clean, renewable electricity and play an active role in the energy transition,” he said.

The new regulations will support a target of installing 380 MW of capacity under the Micro-generation Support Scheme.

"The regulations come at a time when we are continuing to roll out supports for domestic and non-domestic solar PV installations through the Micro-generation Support Scheme, as well as progressing the design of a support scheme for small-scale generation,” added Ryan.

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