The Solar Meitheal

What is a Solar Meitheal?

The Solar Meitheal project aims to create groups of homeowners and/or small businesses who want to get Solar Photovoltaic installations done.

Working together as a group, the meaning of 'meitheal', to negotiate as a group with suppliers/installers, bringing prices down and making the whole process easier.

• Since Feb 2021, Clare Energy Agency has helped over 400 homeowners to get Solar PV installed on their homes with meitheals in Inagh, Ennistymon, Clooney/Spancilhill, Kilfenora and more.

What Clare Energy Agency Provides

For each meitheal, Clare Energy Agency provided:

• Guidance to understand photovoltaic technology and components.
• The project co-ordination
• The process for selecting the supplier/installer
• Individual Home Assessments to identify the specific PV system suitable for each home. (See below for full details)
• Constant follow-up with the chosen suppliers to keep things going

If you know that there is interest (minimum 5 people) in your village/parish/estate then get in touch and we'll get the ball rolling

Solar PV Assessment

Every home/business is different and so it makes sense that a Solar PV system needs to be designed specifically for each one.

The Solar PV Assessment is an hour long one-to-one session with the home/business owner(s) which covers the following:

• Review your current electricity usage over the previous ~12 months to allow the sizing of a suitable PV system
• Assess the suitability of your roof(s) and or ground area.
• Assess the suitable locations of the inverter and battery.
• Explain all the different components of a PV system.
• Go over the typical costs I've seen for the PV system we define together and work out the savings you'll be making. This includes explaining the grants that are available.
• Prepare the request for quote to send out to installers with all the relevant questions (I'll provide contact details for a number of local installers I've worked with in the past)

The Assessment is usually done by Zoom/telephone with all bills, photos etc. provided in advance by the homeowner