Heat Pump Grants in Ireland 2026

What is the heat pump grant?

SEAI offers a grant of €6,500 towards the cost of installing an air-to-water heat pump through the Better Energy Homes scheme. There is also a separate €200 grant for a technical heat pump survey, which is required before installation. Heat pumps are highly efficient heating systems that extract heat from the outside air and use it to heat your home and hot water — typically 3–4 times more efficient than gas or oil boilers.

Types of heat pump

The most common type for Irish homes is the air-to-water heat pump, which replaces an existing oil or gas boiler and works with your radiators or underfloor heating. Other types include:

• Air-to-air: Heats the air directly — good for well-insulated homes but does not replace a wet heating system
• Ground source: More efficient but requires significant groundwork — not common in standard Irish homes

Eligibility and what to know before applying

Heat pumps work best in well-insulated homes. SEAI may require that your home meets a minimum insulation standard before the grant is paid. Your contractor will carry out a heat loss calculation to size the system correctly. If your home has poor insulation, you may need to do attic or wall insulation first — grants are available for these too. A technical survey (€200 grant available) is required before installation.

Costs after the grant

A fully installed air-to-water heat pump typically costs €14,000–€20,000 before the grant. After the €6,500 SEAI grant, your cost is €7,500–€13,500. Running costs are significantly lower than oil or gas, and heat pumps qualify for the lowest electricity tariff bands. Most homeowners break even within 8–12 years on fuel savings alone.