Mayo leads the way on solar uptake nationally thanks to ‘Meitheal’ approach
Mayo is punching well above its weight when it comes to solar panel installations and one woman is widely credited with making it happen.
Dr. Orla Nic Suibhne, county mentor for the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland's (SEAI) Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) Programme, has spent years bringing solar knowledge directly to Mayo communities through a network of 53 SECs across the county.
Mayo County Council's climate change officer, Laura Dixon recently credited Dr. Nic Suibhne's work as a key driver behind the county's strong solar uptake, a record that stands out even compared to wealthier counties.
Speaking to The Connaught Telegraph, Dr. Nic Suibhne said the county's success comes down to a combination of factors: the €1,800 SEAI grant for solar PV, very short payback periods of between two and four years for systems without a battery, increased public awareness, and the community “meitheal” model she has developed on the ground.
"The panels are guaranteed from a performance perspective for 25 years," she said, "so the value is really there once people can get over the upfront cost."
The solar meitheal approach, rooted in the Irish tradition of communal work sees Dr. Orla Nic Suibhne bring local registered solar installers and the One Stop Shop provider Churchfield Home Services together with communities for public information events.
Installers then compete on price, with results she says are consistently very competitive.
"When we run the solar meitheals, we force the local contractors to be really competitive as they know that cost is the most important factor," she said.
For a standard 12-panel, 5kW system, Nic Suibhne says a Mayo household can realistically expect to save between €900 and €1,400 per year on electricity, with the system typically costing around €4,500 after the grant.
With fuel prices a major talking point across Ireland in recent weeks, she says interest in solar has never been higher. But she is careful to point out that the surge did not begin overnight.
"To be honest, the interest in solar has been increasing since the rise in electricity prices in 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine," she said. "The recent fuel crisis is highlighting the energy costs again."
On motivation, she is matter-of-fact: most people are coming to solar primarily for the savings, not environmental reasons, though the two often go hand in hand.
She is also concerned about protecting householders from high-pressure sales tactics. Her advice to anyone approached by a door-to-door solar salesperson is unambiguous: do not sign a contract or pay a deposit on the spot.
"Please do your research first," she said. "Not getting three quotes can be a costly mistake."
As for whether the national grid can handle a widespread surge in solar, she says the infrastructure is ready. ESB Networks has capped inverter size at 5kW for domestic systems, and with the national smart meter rollout now almost complete, over two million already installed, households can both maximise self-consumption and get paid for any electricity they export.
A 2022 MaREI study found over one million Irish homes have roofs suitable for solar. At the time, around 24,000 homes had panels installed.
By 2025, that figure had grown to 170,000. If Mayo's community-led approach were replicated nationally, Dr. Nic Suibhne believes, the results would speak for themselves.
Homeowners interested in solar can contact their local Sustainable Energy Community or visit seai.ie for details on grants and registered installers. People are encouraged to attend the upcoming SEAI roadshows the next one is taking place on April 23 at the McWilliam Park Hotel, Claremorris from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and in Castlebar at the TF Royal Hotel on April 30 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.