Sizing · checked 3 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 Wexford town, 8 panels (3.88kWp) make about 4,100 kWh a year, close to the 4,200 kWh the energy regulator uses for a typical home, and 10 panels make about 5,120.
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- 8 to 12 panels for most homes (Selectra)
- Grant grows to €1,800 at 4kWp
- One installer rings you, not a list
Last checked 3 November 2026: SEAI grant rules (scheme guide v6.0), Purevolt's and Selectra's published prices and export rates, read at source. Output from EU PVGIS and weather from Met Éireann, pulled the same day.
How much does each system make in Wexford?
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 Wexford town, 8 panels (3.88kWp) make about 4,100 kWh a year, close to the 4,200 kWh the energy regulator uses for a typical home, and 10 panels make about 5,120.
| System | Wexford town | Bunclody | Share of 4,200 kWh, Wexford town | SEAI grant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels3.88kWp | 4,100 | 3,620 | 98% | €1,776 |
| 10 panels4.85kWp | 5,120 | 4,520 | 122% | €1,800 |
| 12 panels5.82kWp | 6,140 | 5,430 | 146% | €1,800 |
| 16 panels7.76kWp | 8,190 | 7,240 | 195% | €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 (read 3 Nov 2026). Checked 3 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 page (read 2 Nov 2026)).
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 (read 3 Nov 2026)).
- 10 panels in Wexford town make about 643 kWh in June and 168 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 Wexford?
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 Wexford town, 8 panels (3.88kWp) make about 4,100 kWh a year, close to the 4,200 kWh the energy regulator uses for a typical home, and 10 panels make about 5,120. (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 (read 3 Nov 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 Wexford town make about 643 kWh in June but only 168 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 Wexford
- Solar panel cost in Wexford
- The SEAI solar grant
- Solar batteries in Wexford
- Solar panel installers in Wexford
- Ground-mounted solar panels
- Wexford towns compared
- Solar panels in Wexford town1,056 kWh per kWp a year
- Solar panels in Enniscorthy971 kWh per kWp a year
- Solar panels in Gorey979 kWh per kWp a year
- Solar panels in New Ross975 kWh per kWp a year
- Solar panels in Courtown992 kWh per kWp a year
- Solar panels in Bunclody933 kWh per kWp a year
- Solar panels in Rosslare1,048 kWh per kWp a year
- Solar panels in Ferns973 kWh per kWp a year
- Solar panels in Kilmore Quay1,045 kWh per kWp a year
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Where these numbers come from (16 public sources, checked 3 November 2026)
- Irish Times, 15 Oct 2026
- SEAI Solar PV Scheme Application Guide, v6.0, 12 Oct 2026 (read 3 Nov 2026)
- Grant Thornton
- WattCharger, Aug 2026
- 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
- Wexford County Development Plan 2022–2028, Volume 6: Architectural Conservation Areas
- ESB Networks
- Met Éireann, Sunshine and Solar Radiation
- 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 page (read 2 Nov 2026)
Sources (1)
Prices and facts on this page were checked against these published pages. We are not connected to these businesses.
- Purevolt: purevolt.ie