Around 35–40 people attended an evening event focused on the solar PV survey. Peter from Ballydehob Tidy Towns presented results from 19 participating system owners, showing system sizes ranging from 3 kWp to 78 kWp. The data indicated average payback periods of about 8 years for systems without battery storage and 10 years with storage, not including government subsidies—which would shorten payback even further. Recent price drops have encouraged the installation of larger battery systems, which can power homes for several days during outages.
An example was shared of an electric vehicle trip from Ballydehob to Germany (1,750 km), requiring only 320 kWh of electricity—roughly equivalent to 32 liters of petrol. Kieran from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) then discussed available government grants for renewable energy and home retrofits, noting that subsidies can reduce PV payback time to about 6 years. He also highlighted that attic or roof insulation can cut household energy use by about 30%.
Finally, Patricia from Grian52 showcased the company’s experience installing solar PV systems for homes and businesses ranging from 3 to 100 kWp. Attendees were able to view PV components and speak directly with company owner Owen and his installer team, followed by an engaged group discussion.
