We're Taking the Risk Out of Investing in Solar

Cowboys. Snake-oil salesmen. Fast buck artists. These charmers exist in any fast-growing business sector. We’re sorry to note that the renewable energy industry isn’t immune from attracting the kind of rogue operators willing to fleece consumers without a second thought.

The old adage that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true, didn’t get to be “an old adage” for nothing.?

SolarSmart was founded back in 2020 – in terms of solar providers in Ireland, that makes us “middle-aged”. Along with that maturity has come growth and stability. We’re not going anywhere – and the dedicated teams in our sales, installation and “after-care” departments have a wealth of knowledge about what customers need (and, in some cases, what they can do without).

All of that separates SolarSmart from our competitors – especially the “one man and a van” operations that install a solar panel system, take your money, then disappear. We’re here for the long haul, and that means being in a constant feedback loop with customers – new and old – to live up to the trust they’ve put in us by putting their business in our hands.

So what are we learning in that feedback loop?

The number one message our sales teams hears is “I want to go solar, but I’m not sure I can afford the initial outlay."

We understand. Average installation costs run between €6,000 – €16,000 (no matter which installer you choose). That’s a big ask – especially in the current economic climate.

Bring the Cost of Solar Down With the SEAI Solar Grant

Most solar installers will assure you that the government’s generous €2,100 solar energy grant will bring the real cost down, and that they will help process the paperwork to make sure you get that payment.

That’s great - but it still leaves homeowners shelling out the total “upfront” and waiting to be reimbursed.

Our team has put their heads together and come up with an alternative. Starting this month, we’re going to take the risk and wait out of the SEAI solar grant application process – by taking it on ourselves.

We’re confident in our ability to install a fully grant-eligible solar PV system on our customers’ homes, that we will do all the paperwork and all the waiting. That means that anyone who buys a system from us will pay €2,100 less upfront than they would from any other company.

As we’ve made clear in previous posts, solar is based on technology that is reliable, long-lived and dependable. That’s why solar panels come with a 12-year manufacturer’s warranty and a 25-year linear performance warranty. What's more, the inverters and batteries we often use come with a 10-year warranty.

That said – and turning again to the old adage department –? “if something can go wrong, it will go wrong.” ?Even with the long lifespan of solar PV components, with any system you're likely to run into some issue, need a replacement part, or want an upgrade. Have a look, for instance, at our maintenance and repair service – it’s another way of showing that we’ll be here when you need us (not just for the installation).

If you’ve begun to shop around for solar, here are a few other tips on avoiding the cowboys:

1. Only use an installer registered with the SEAI. Among other things, that’s the only route to obtaining a solar energy grant.
2. Check out the company’s history. Ask how long they have been in the business, how many installations they have done?
3. Ask whether the company will do the work themselves or subcontract it out. If they do subcontract, ask who will take overall responsibility for the job.
4. Ask whether the system they recommend is sized specifically for your home, family size, and energy usage.
5. Get references from other customers and/or check the company out on Trustpilot. (Here’s our own Trustpilot review – 4.9 out of 5 stars!)
6. Ask about “after sales” service, repairs, and maintenance.
7. Ask about warranties for all the major components.
8. Get at least three detailed written quotations.
9. Compare each company’s responses on all of the above to know which provider will be the right one for you.

We give all this advice because we think that when potential customers have done their homework, they’ll understand why they are getting value for money with SolarSmart.

And now, by tackling the SEAI grant process on the homeowner’s behalf, we’ll be taking €2,100 off our client’s “upfront” costs. (Think of it as a fringe benefit of SolarSmart being “middle-aged” and stable.)

We'll be here for you for the entirety of your Irish Solar journey - long after the installation takes place.