Payments are issued as a credit on your bi-monthly electricity bill, not as direct bank transfers.
Microgeneration is when you produce your own renewable electricity (e.g. with solar PV). Energia’s Microgeneration Scheme allows you to earn by exporting your unused electricity back to the grid.
The Fuel Mix Disclosure is a report that shares the mix of fuels energy suppliers provide customers yearly. It shows the percentage of demand met by a particular source of energy, as well as its CO2 impact. The Single Electricity Market Operator calculates it yearly on behalf of the CRU.
The Fuel Mix Disclosure is a report that shares the mix of fuels energy suppliers provide customers yearly. It shows the percentage of demand met by a particular source of energy, as well as its CO2 impact. The Single Electricity Market Operator calculates it yearly on behalf of the CRU.
The FMD allows you to access information about your energy sources and make informed choices about your supplier. The CRU requires it to appear on bills, promotional material and on the CRU website.
Green Source Product Verification Report is an annual report produced by CRU which confirms that a supplier offering green source products are 100% renewable. Suppliers must avail of verification through SEMO, if they are offering green source / 100% renewable products. A green source submission, which details the total aggregate demand kilowatt hour (kWh) of all the supplier’s customers who are availing of green source / 100% Renewable Products, is made to SEMO. In addition as part of this robust verification process, an independent audit is completed by the supplier to verify the green source renewable products, which is also submitted to SEMO. CRU then publish a report on the outcome of the verification process which is the annual Green Source Product Verification Report.
Each Guarantee of Origin certificate verifies that 1MWh of energy has been generated from renewable sources such as solar, wind, or hydropower. They are included in energy suppliers’ Fuel Mix Disclosures (FMD) under renewable generation.
European Economic Area members can sell Guarantee of Origin certificates freely between states. All energy suppliers supplying green energy across the EU do this under EU legislation.
The buying and selling of certs are a common practice in the European energy market. There are heavy regulations from the CRU and the Irish/EU market to ensure fairness and transparency. The GoOs are never double counted and are verified sources of green energy. The CRU regulates all renewable energy sources through a Green Source Verification Process (GSVP) and annual Fuel Mix Disclosure report. Read through the CRU’s website to see the process for regulating green energy claims here.
GoOs encourage and support the generation of renewable energy sources. They are important investments in the future of energy as they create and grow demand for sustainable generation. As Ireland moves towards a greener, more integrated electricity framework, wind, solar or hydro will become leading sources of energy to power our cities and homes. For now, GoOs are a steppingstone to a more sustainable energy future.
The electricity grid stores all energy - making a cocktail of renewable and non-renewable sources. As a consumer, it’s impossible to know if the electrons used to power your home were made by wind turbines or coal. But, by being an Energia customer, we work out your energy demand from the grid. Then we make sure we invest in an equal amount of renewable energy to match this need. This is reflected in our yearly Fuel Mix Disclosure and Green Source Product Verification process where we confirm supply of 100% Renewable Electricity to our customers.
We match all our customers’ electricity demand with 100% renewable generation on an annual basis. We supply 100% Renewable Electricity through a combination of renewable generation in Ireland and renewable generation in Europe under Guarantee of Origin certificates.
We supply Energia customers with 100% Renewable Electricity. So, all our electricity plans are renewable too. Our energy is certified by Guarantee of Origin certificates.
Energia is a leading developer and operator of renewable energy across the island of Ireland supplying 21% of Ireland’s wind energy. Energia’s growing renewable energy portfolio consists of 15 onshore wind farm sites, which generate over 300MW of green electricity and an additional 900MW through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). Energia are currently developing a robust renewable energy portfolio with offshore wind energy, solar technology, hydrogen production, bioenergy plants and battery storage projects to further sustainability efforts throughout our business and for our customers.
All electricity generated in Ireland and Northern Ireland pools into The Integrated Single Electricity Market. This central market enables the free trade of energy across businesses and borders. From here, suppliers buy electricity to sell on to their customers. The market standardises energy price and type, regardless of where it comes from. See the CRU website for more information on the wholesale market design.
​​​​​​Yes, heat pumps can extract heat energy at very low temperatures.
Once every year will be fine, as with a fossil fuel boiler.
Heat pumps require very little maintenance. However, the area around them should be kept free of debris and obstructions to avoid blocking the air flow into and out of the heat pump.
Heat pumps work best in well-insulated, draft-free homes, with minimal heat loss (a high Building Energy Rating). Home improvements would include triple glazed windows with trickle vents, air-tight doors, and various types of insulation.
“Set & Forget”: Heat Pumps are designed for steady state operation so best practice is to set the thermostat to your preferred comfortable temperature and leave it. If any changes are to be made, they should be made gradually and to no more than 2°C to avoid large temperature shifts.
Heat pumps work best in environments where drafts are kept to a minimum. Avoid leaving windows and doors open unnecessarily.
Your installer should show you (at the minimum) how to do the following four actions:
Set room temperature.
Set water temperature.
Set heating schedule/curve.
Set heating point for low ambient temperatures.
Your heat pump should have a “holiday mode” which turns down the temperature but doesn’t switch the unit off. Your installer should show you how to activate this mode and it should be detailed in the manual.
You leave the heat pump running when you leave the house.
Yes, heat pumps are designed to maintain a set temperature using low-temperature radiators for long periods as opposed to a fossil fuel boiler which heat at high temperatures intermittently.
You should avoid:
Switching it off.
Using the “boost” function.
Using the “Auto” control function.
Making large temperature changes.
Setting the room temperature too high.
Contact your installer immediately. Under no circumstances should you attempt to fix the issue yourself.
Your heat pump installer should provide a manual and a quick start guide along with all other associated warranty documentation.
Heat pumps are slow response systems so setting the temperature higher than you need will not result in it hitting your preferred temperature quicker.
Heat pumps are not designed to be switched off and on. Constant switching will place a huge strain on the compressor unit and will greatly shorten the lifespan of this unit, meaning more regular repairs.
While switching off the heat pump would give the impression of saving energy, heat pumps require a lot of energy to ramp back up to operating temperature so turning the heat pump of and on will consume more energy than leaving it on all the time.
Depending on the model of home battery system installed, one can be used to power your home in the event of a power cut. Your installer will be able to fully talk you through this and what, if any, additional requirements will be needed.
While any electrician is qualified to install a home battery system, it is strongly recommended that you choose an installer with years of experience in both Solar PV and home battery system installations.
No. While they are usually installed together, or Solar PV is installed first, you do not need to have a solar array before getting a home battery system. Be aware that should you get a battery first and install a solar array afterwards, some equipment, usually the inverter will need to be changed to accommodate it.
Most home battery systems will not allow you to go off-grid without a sizeable amount of solar PV. An experienced solar contractor and installer will be able to advise you further on this. A typical Irish home will consume around 9 to 11 kWh a day so a battery around that size will enable you to run for a day without charging, again, an experienced solar contractor will be able to advise you on this.
They work by storing electricity for future use in your home. The inverter detects when there is electricity being imported from the grid and discharges the stored power in the battery into the home instead of grid power.
Home battery systems can take around 1 to 2 days to complete. A home survey by an experienced installer will be able to determine a more accurate timeframe for installation.
It depends on the battery system your installer specialises in. You should get the full data sheet details from them and plan out where the ideal location is to situate your battery and other equipment. Some models can be installed outside in weather-proof enclosures, but they will usually be more expensive.
As much as you can fit and afford. There’s no limit to the amount of battery storage you can install although over-sizing will not benefit you more. If your battery system is too large it will not fully charge, and you will have wasted money on a system that does not get fully utilised.
Your inverter should come with an app which will enable you to monitor your electrical usage and storage. It depends on the inverter model; your installer will be able to discuss and demonstrate this in more detail to you.
The main type of battery used in home installations are Lithium-iron batteries (LFPs). These have the advantages of being relatively lightweight and compact with a longer shelf life and more charge cycles compared to other battery technologies. They also tend to have a larger depth of discharge (DoD) allowing you access to more of your battery’s capacity.
Depth of charge is the amount by which the battery will discharge before it stops and needs to be recharged. Expressed usually as a percentage, typical Depth of Charge values are roughly 90% depending on the model. As a battery system ages, this may be reduced to maximise the lifespan of the battery.
Other than the battery itself, there will be an inverter and charge management panel. If other components need to be installed your installer should present you with an itemised list of what is involved in the installation.
A home battery system is a large battery connected to an inverter installed at home. It is used to store excess electricity – commonly that generated by solar PV systems – which can then be used either at night-time or when there is no electricity being generated. It can also be used to power the home in the case of a blackout. This system helps you to save money by reducing the amount of electricity you draw from the grid.
Other than needed to be placed in an area where it will not get too warm or wet, a home battery system requires no maintenance.
It can depend on the battery system, but the usual warranty tends to be 10 years.
Yes, it will depend on the size of the system, but the presence of a home battery system will add to the value of your home.
No. Although you may wish to switch to a different tariff rate to maximise your savings as a result of having a battery system, having one installed will not affect it at all. If you want further information on what tariff would benefit you the most, please contact your energy provider.
Microgeneration is when you produce your own renewable electricity (e.g. with solar PV). Energia’s Microgeneration Scheme allows you to earn by exporting your unused electricity back to the grid.
To be eligible for the scheme you must own a microgenerator such as solar PV and have an export grid connection. You need to complete an NC6 form, this may have been completed by your technician at the time of installation of the microgenerator. 
Once your NC6 form is submitted to ESBN they need to notify Energia and we will set up your export account. ESBN will send us your export usage details when available and payment will show on your electricity bill.
If you do not have a smart meter at the premises you will need to get one installed by ESB Networks to get paid for what you export. Energia can request a smart meter on your behalf. 
You’ll need a smart meter to join the scheme. You can request the installation of a smart meter, this can be done through ESBN.
Energia receive a notification from ESB Networks to let us know that a customer has a microgeneration installation.
We record this information on the customer’s account and will email them to let them know we have received this.
If you have submitted everything correctly to ESBN and have not heard from Energia please contact us.
Deemed export is an estimated value used in the absence of a smart meter, but this is less common now as smart meters provide accurate readings.
Metered export uses real-time smart meter data. Deemed export is a calculated estimate used when smart meter data is unavailable.
Payments are issued as a credit on your bi-monthly electricity bill, not as direct bank transfers.
No, your export payments will appear as credits on your existing Energia electricity account.
Your bill will show the export volume based on smart meter readings collected by ESBN.
You may qualify for a tax exemption of up to €400 per year on income from exported electricity. Speak with Revenue or your tax advisor for full details.
You’ll be paid €0.20 per kWh for exported electricity, credited to your Energia bill.
This depends on how much excess electricity you export. With Energia’s current rate of 20c per kWh, exporting 1,000 kWh per year could earn you €200 in credits.
You don’t need a huge amount of roof space. Arrays are tailored to the amount of space available. It is preferable to have a roof that is south or south-east facing to ensure the maximum amount of sunlight is available.
It depends on the wattage rating of your panels and the size of the array along with environmental factors such as ambient temperature and weather, but the average 3kWp solar PV array should generate roughly 2,400 kWh per year. The technical assessment will be able to calculate the potential generation for your home’s array more accurately.
Costs will vary on the size of the array you want, and the extent of the work needed to install that array but, as a rough estimate, you can assume a solar PV system will run at around €1,700 to €2,000 per kWp. So, a 4kWp solar generation system could cost around €8000.
For solar thermal, you can assume between €1,000 to €1,300 per square meter. But, as with all renewable home upgrades, a technical assessment by a registered professional will provide you with all the information you need.
There are two different warranties when it comes to solar panels: a materials and workmanship warranty and a linear power warranty. The materials and workmanship warranty is much like the one you get with most products; if the panel is defective/installed incorrectly or develops a defect within that time period, then it’s covered. These warranties tend to be in and around the 10 – 12-year mark.
A linear power warranty is a unique one to solar panels. The power output of a solar panel degrades over time so most (if not, all) solar manufacturers have linear power warranties that guarantee that the performance of the panel will stay above a certain rate over the warranty period. This is usually a 0.5 to 1% degradation rate with an allowance of 2% In the first year. These warranties tend to be in and around the 25 – 30-year mark.
Your installer should provide you with the exact details and lengths of the warranties on all the components installed with your solar array.
Solar panels covert energy from sunlight into either electricity –as with Solar PV – or heat – as with Solar Thermal. Solar PV panels work by using a semiconductor material that generates electricity when exposed to sunlight to produce power which can then be used, stored, or exported back to the grid. Solar Thermal uses sunlight to heat a special fluid that is pumped around a sealed circuit. This fluid travels through the solar collector to absorb heat energy and then into a coil in a specially designed hot water cylinder.
The SEAI has individual grants for Solar PV and Solar water heating. To be eligible for these grants, you must be the homeowner and the home must have been built and occupied before 2021. The Solar water heating grant is €1,200. The Solar PV grant is determined by the size of the array installed; it is €800 per kWp up to 2kWp and an additional €250 per kWp up to 4kWp for a maximum grant of €2,100.
From grid, or Import, is the energy that is coming from the grid which you pay for with your electricity tariff.
To grid, or Export, is the energy that is sent to the grid which has been generated by your solar panels but has not been used in the home.
Estimated consumption is the amount of energy used in your home including units imported from the grid, and an estimate of how much you have used from your Solar PV generation. It does not include units exported back to the grid as you have not consumed those.
Estimated generation is an estimate of how much energy you have generated from your solar PV panels. It includes the units exported back to the grid, and the units you have used in your home.
If you are self-sufficient, you will be provided with a rating, which is the percentage of the energy used in your home generated by your solar PV panels.
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