Are you actually shopping around for your solar & EV charger installer?

You've done the research, watched the YouTube videos, maybe even had a neighbour rave about their new solar setup. You're ready. So you go online, find a company, get a quote, and book them in. Simple, right?

Not quite. Because here's what many homeowners don't realise until it's too late: the installer you pick matters just as much as the technology you install. And in a market that has grown from a handful of companies to hundreds seemingly overnight, knowing how to choose — and how to review — is now an essential skill.

The SEAI list: your starting point, not your finish line

The SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland) maintains a register of approved contractors for solar PV, EV charger installation, and other home energy upgrades. To qualify for SEAI grants — and in 2026 those grants are still very much worth claiming — you must use a registered installer. That part is non-negotiable.

But here's what the SEAI list doesn't tell you: it tells you who is eligible to do the work. It doesn't tell you who does it well. Being on the SEAI register means a company has met the minimum requirements. It says nothing about their pricing, their after-care, their communication, or whether the customer before you had a nightmare experience.

The list is extensive. And that's actually the point: you have options. Real options. The problem is that most homeowners simply don't use them.

Why are the prices so different?

This is one of the most common questions we hear — and the answer is both simple and surprisingly nuanced. Get three quotes for the same 4kWp solar system from three different SEAI-registered installers and you could easily see prices ranging from €6,500 to €11,000 or more. For the same job.

So what's going on? A few things:

• Panel quality varies enormously. Tier 1 panels from established manufacturers cost more than budget alternatives — and perform very differently over 25 years.
• Some companies include everything. A full system design, monitoring setup, and ongoing support. Others install and disappear.
• Overhead costs differ. A company with a large showroom, big marketing budget, and TV ads has to recover those costs somewhere.
• The market is still maturing. Some installers are genuinely competitively priced. Others are still charging 2022 prices in a 2026 market.
• Workmanship standards vary. An installer who takes three days to do a careful, tidy job costs more than one who rushes it in a day.

The cheapest quote is not always bad. The most expensive is not always best. But you will never know which is which unless you get multiple quotes and ask the right questions.

Are people actually getting three quotes? Honestly, no.

Anecdotal evidence from homeowners and industry conversations suggests a significant number of people go with the first or second installer they contact. Sometimes it's because the process feels overwhelming. Sometimes a salesperson is particularly persuasive. Sometimes people just want it done and move on.

This is understandable. But it's also costing people real money — and in some cases, real headaches when things go wrong.

SEAI recommends a minimum of three quotes. Not two. Three. And for good reason: the third quote often tells you something the first two didn't. It might reveal that one company significantly overpriced the job. Or it might confirm that a price you were quoted was actually fair. Either way, you're making an informed decision rather than an expensive guess.

So many installers — but are we actually reviewing them?

A few years ago, there were perhaps a dozen or two solar installers operating in Ireland. Today there are several hundred on the SEAI register. The solar rush is real — and while most of the new entrants are genuine, experienced businesses, the rapid growth of any market always brings some companies whose quality and ethics haven't caught up with their ambition.

The best way to protect yourself — and to help other homeowners — is to leave honest, detailed reviews after your installation. Not just a star rating, but a proper account: how the quoting process went, whether they communicated well, how the installation day actually ran, whether the system performed as promised, and critically, how they responded if anything went wrong.

That kind of review is worth its weight in gold to the next person considering the same company.

Where to find reviews — and where to leave them

Here's a practical breakdown of the review platforms most useful to Irish homeowners researching solar and EV charger installers:

One important caveat: no review platform is perfect. Google reviews can be manipulated. Trustpilot has had issues with fake reviews across various industries. Facebook comments can lack context. The trick is to read across multiple platforms and look for patterns rather than relying on any single five-star or one-star review.

What to look for in reviews

• How does the company respond to negative reviews? Defensively, or with genuine accountability?
• Are positive reviews specific and detailed, or vague and generic?
• Do reviewers mention after-sales support? This is where many installers fall short.
• Are there any recurring complaints about the same issue?
• How recent are the reviews? A company that was great in 2022 may have changed significantly since then.

Getting advice: everyone's talking, but nobody's actually helping

Here's the paradox of the current moment in Irish home energy: there has never been more information available about solar panels and EV chargers, and yet many homeowners feel more confused than ever.

You have installers telling you their system is best. Comparison websites that may have commercial relationships with the companies they list. YouTube channels with advice from the UK or US that doesn't fully translate to the Irish climate, grid, or grant structure. Well-meaning neighbours with opinions formed by their own very specific circumstances. And government websites that are accurate but not always written for the person who just wants to know whether solar is right for a north-facing roof in Roscommon.

So where does genuinely useful, independent advice come from?

• SEAI's own guides are underrated. seai.ie has straightforward, grant-specific information that cuts through a lot of noise.
• Your electricity bills are the starting point for any honest conversation about whether solar will work for your household. Any installer who doesn't ask to see them early in the process should raise an eyebrow.
• An independent energy assessor — someone who earns nothing from the installation itself — can give you an honest picture of what return you'll actually see.
• Community forums like Boards.ie or local Facebook groups often have real-world Irish feedback that no brochure can replicate.
• Your BER assessor can also flag whether solar makes sense given your home's current efficiency rating and heating system.

Questions every homeowner should ask before signing anything

Whether you're getting solar panels, an EV charger, or both, have these answered in writing before any money changes hands:

1. What brand and tier of panels are you installing, and what is the warranty?
2. Who handles the SEAI grant application — you or us?
3. What monitoring system comes with the installation, and will I be able to see my system's output?
4. What does the warranty cover, and who do I call if there's a fault in year three?
5. Can you provide references from two or three previous customers with a similar installation?
6. Is your quote inclusive of VAT and all associated works, or are there potential add-ons?
7. How long have you been installing in Ireland, and how many systems have you completed?

The bottom line: the market has grown — your diligence needs to match it

A few years ago, the Irish solar market was small enough that word of mouth alone could steer you toward a good installer. That era is over. The market is bigger, more complex, and more varied in quality than it has ever been.

The good news is that there are genuinely excellent installers working in every county — companies with strong track records, honest salespeople, clean installations, and proper after-care. They exist, and they're worth finding.

But you'll only find them if you do the work: get three quotes, read reviews across multiple platforms, ask hard questions, and resist the temptation to just get it done quickly. This is a 25-year investment in your home. It deserves a few extra days of research.

And when your installation is complete — whether it went brilliantly or not — please take ten minutes to leave a proper review. Not just a star rating. A real one. It costs you nothing, and it helps the next homeowner make a better decision than they would have made without you.