SEAI Energy Grant and MVHR – What’s Covered?
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- SEAI Energy Grant and MVHR – What’s Covered?
What Is the SEAI Energy Grant?
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The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Irish government’s home energy grant schemes. These are not loans — they are non-repayable grants designed to help homeowners reduce energy bills, cut carbon emissions, and improve their home’s Building Energy Rating (BER). Following the National Residential Retrofit Plan launched in early 2026, the total funding available for a deep whole-home retrofit can now exceed €30,000, making this the most ambitious energy upgrade programme Ireland has ever seen. |
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What Grants Are Available in 2026?
SEAI offers grants across four main schemes:
- Individual Energy Upgrade Grants (Better Energy Homes) — pick-and-mix grants for specific measures
- One Stop Shop — a managed, whole-home deep retrofit programme
- Warmer Homes Scheme — fully funded upgrades for qualifying low-income households
- Solar PV / Solar Thermal Schemes — dedicated renewable energy grants
Individual Grant Amounts at a Glance (2026)
| Measure | Grant Amount |
|---|---|
| Heat Pump System | Up to €12,500 |
| External Wall Insulation | Up to €8,000 |
| Attic Insulation | Up to €1,500 |
| Windows & Doors | Up to €4,000 |
| Solar PV | Up to €1,800 |
| Mechanical Ventilation (MVHR) | Up to €1,500 |
| BER Assessment | €50 contribution |
Does the SEAI Grant Cover MVHR?
Yes — MVHR is covered under the SEAI grant scheme, and it’s an essential part of any deep retrofit.
Through the One Stop Shop (Deep Retrofit)
MVHR is most commonly funded as part of the One Stop Shop programme. When you insulate and air-seal a home to modern standards, controlled ventilation becomes a building regulation requirement — not an optional extra. The One Stop Shop recognises this, and includes MVHR as a core eligible measure within the package.
A typical deep retrofit covered by this scheme includes:
- External, attic, and floor insulation
- Air tightness measures
- Heat pump installation
- Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR)
- Solar PV (optional)
Funding under the One Stop Shop is up to €50,000, or 50% of eligible costs — whichever is lower. Low-income households may qualify for up to 80% of costs covered.
MVHR as a Standalone Measure
A dedicated SEAI grant of up to €1,500 is available for installing a heat recovery ventilation system. This applies to homeowners with properties built and occupied before 2011.
Why Is MVHR So Important?
When you insulate and seal your home to reduce energy waste, you also reduce natural air infiltration. That’s great for energy efficiency — but without a ventilation strategy, it can lead to condensation, damp, and poor indoor air quality.
MVHR solves this by:
- Continuously supplying fresh, filtered air to living areas
- Exhausting stale, moisture-laden air from kitchens and bathrooms
- Recovering up to 90–95% of the heat from outgoing air and transferring it to incoming fresh air
- Reducing the risk of mould and condensation caused by airtight construction
- Lowering your heating demand, complementing your heat pump perfectly
In an airtight, well-insulated home, MVHR is the difference between a house that’s energy-efficient on paper and one that’s genuinely healthy and comfortable to live in year-round.
Who Is Eligible for the SEAI Grant?
To qualify for SEAI home energy grants, you generally need to:
- Own the property (homeowners, landlords, and some approved housing bodies qualify)
- Have a home built and occupied before 2021 (for most measures)
- Use an SEAI-registered contractor — all work must be carried out by approved installers
- Apply and receive approval before work begins — retrospective applications are not accepted
Important: You cannot start any works before receiving your grant approval from SEAI. Starting early will disqualify your application.
How to Apply for the SEAI Grant
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Can You Stack Multiple Grants?
Yes. One of the best features of the 2026 grant design is that individual grants can be combined across measures. You could claim:
- Attic insulation grant
- Heat pump grant
- MVHR grant
- Solar PV grant
…all in a single application, dramatically reducing the overall cost of your retrofit.
You cannot combine Better Energy Homes individual grants with the One Stop Shop for the same measures — but many homeowners use both schemes across different measures where eligible.
What Is NOT Covered by SEAI Grants?
To avoid any surprises, it’s worth knowing what falls outside the scheme:
- General home renovations (kitchens, bathrooms, flooring)
- Structural or roofing repairs unrelated to energy performance
- Appliances or furniture
- Work carried out before grant approval
- Homes built after 2021 (for most measures)
The Bottom Line
The 2026 SEAI grants make it more affordable than ever to upgrade your home to a high energy performance standard. MVHR is a fully supported, eligible measure — and when combined with insulation, a heat pump, and solar PV, it transforms an older Irish home into a warm, healthy, low-running-cost property.
With up to €1,500 available for MVHR alone, and deep retrofit packages potentially worth €30,000+, there has never been a better time to act.
Ready to get started? Visit seai.ie to check your eligibility, or speak to an SEAI-registered contractor who can guide you through the process from BER assessment to grant payment.
Grant amounts sourced from SEAI and verified against the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage grant schedule, March 2026. Always check seai.ie for the most current figures before making decisions.
