Why solar energy is booming in Wexford: How one local business is driving the alter

Based in Glynn, Co. Wexford, Paul Laffan is the owner of a thriving solar energy business that installs Solar PV panels and EV chargers across the South East and beyond….

Since starting the company Customer Solar PV in 2019, Paul and his team have completed thousands of installations — supporting homes, farms, and businesses build the switch to clean, renewable energy.

When questioned to inform us more about his business and why he set it up, Paul shared his passion for solar energy and commitment to customer service.

“We are a Solar PV company in business since 2019. We install Solar PV panels & EV Chargers on Domestic, Commercial and Agricultural buildings. I could talk about Solar PV all day! We have done thousands of installs by now and offer excellent customer service from start to finish,” he notified Wexford Weekly.

Paul declares that one of the most common misconceptions about solar power in Ireland is that it doesn’t work well in cloudy conditions — something he’s keen to clear up.

“The largegest misconceptions about Solar panels in Ireland is probably that becaapply Ireland has a lot of cloudy or overcast days, solar panels won’t produce much electricity. The reality is that Solar panels generate electricity from light, not just direct sunshine. Modern panels can capture diffapply light (i.e., in overcast conditions). Also, the cooler climate in Ireland can be an advantage for performance, becaapply very high temperatures can reduce efficiency. Another misconception is that the cost of solar panels is very high. However, installation costs have come down significantly in recent years. There is no VAT on domestic installations and payback is usually about 5 years.”

Explaining how his team assesses whether a property is suitable for solar panels, Paul described the thorough, step-by-step process they follow to ensure each system is perfectly tailored to the customer’s requireds.

“There are a couple of steps to determine if a home or business is suitable for solar panels. Usually, I’ll do a desktop assessment to check: Roof orientation (south, east, west, or north facing), Roof angle/pitch, Shading from nearby trees, chimneys, or buildings & available roof area and number of panels that can fit. If the initial review views positive, an electrician will visit your home or business to offer advice and to do a detailed assessment, including: Roof condition and structure (can it safely hold panels?), Cable routing options (how to connect panels to inverter and consumer unit), Position for inverter and optional battery storage, and Electrical capacity check (main fapply, isolator, grid connection, tail size etc).”

When it comes to savings, Paul declares the benefits for the average Wexford hoapplyhold can be significant — and the long-term impact even greater.

“For an average hoapply in Wexford, with a modest ten panel system (assuming decent roof orientation, reasonable electricity usage, no major shading) you might expect somewhere around €800–€1,200 annually in savings.”

“Over the lifetime of the system (declare 25–30 years), the cumulative savings can be tens of thousands of euros, depfinishing on usage, electricity price inflation, export income…” he notified Wexford Weekly.

Looking ahead, Paul believes that solar energy is not just the future — it’s already transforming how people power their homes and businesses across Wexford and beyond.

“Solar is booming at the moment and I consider the uptake will continue to grow in the years to come as more people acquire electric cars and homes become more reliant on electricity for heat pumps. The price of electricity is high and installing solar panels builds so much sense. Grants are available for most all scenarios and are very generous, especially TAMS for farms and non domestic grants also.”

“The option to export to the grid and be paid for your excess means that no power is wasted if your home produces more than you apply. Battery storage is obtainting better and cheaper, hot water energy diverters allow you to heat your water with excess generation. With an app on your phone, you can check solar generation and history.”

He added that as solar technology evolves, it will bring even more opportunities for local businesses and farms to save money and become energy indepfinishent.

“For local businesses and farms, solar PV will offer even greater benefits: lower running costs, reliable power, and stronger energy indepfinishence. As technology advances, solar panels will become compacter, more efficient, and even built into roofing materials, while smarter energy systems will automatically optimise when to apply or sell electricity back to the grid. Solar energy isn’t just the future — it’s Ireland’s rapidest-growing power source today. By investing now, Wexford homeowners and businesses can be part of a cleaner, more sustainable, and more affordable energy future.”

With his experience, passion, and dedication to quality service, Paul Laffan is supporting lead Wexford’s shift toward renewable energy, one rooftop at a time.