DUBLIN - Vertical rooftop photovoltaic (PV) solar technology has been introduced to the Irish market, marking a significant new variation for solar installations across the country, according to industry reports.
Vertical photovoltaic systems, which place solar panels vertically as opposed to at an angle, come at a time when Ireland's solar industry is booming. Minister for Climate Action and Environment Eamon Ryan revealed in August 2026 that the installed capacity for solar power in Ireland has crossed the 3 gigawatt mark for the first time in history. Three years ago, the figure was 1 GW, indicating an increase of about 300 percent in capacity.
A Technology Built for Ireland's Climate
Vertical solar panels are mounted upright rather than angled on a roof, and bifacial modules - which capture light on both the front and back surfaces - are particularly effective in the Irish climate. Ireland experiences frequent overcast conditions and low winter sun angles, conditions under which vertical panels perform better than traditional tilted systems because they can capture morning and evening sunlight more effectively and continue generating when the sun sits low on the horizon.
According to the study from the University of York, which was published in Scientific Reports, vertical bifacial PV systems can yield better results than the usual tilted monofacial systems in rooftop PV systems in every season in climates like those in Ireland. The research discovered that vertical bifacial systems achieved a 14.77 percent improvement in summer when compared to conventional tilted systems, but this figure rose to 19.32 percent in spring, 20.27 percent in autumn, and a whopping 24.52 percent in winter.
"Vertical orientation is the superior geometry for the UK and Irish climates because it is optimized for low-angle winter sun and diffused light," explained Keelin Currivan, international customers solutions advisor at Over Easy Solar, a Norwegian-headquartered vertical solar specialist. "Even against a vertical monofacial system, the bifacial version gains an extra 12.45 percent in winter, proving that capturing rear-side reflection is critical".
Beyond superior winter performance, vertical systems offer additional advantages. They reduce maintenance and cleaning costs because rain naturally washes the panels, and dirt, dust, and leaves are less likely to settle on a vertical surface. Snow and frost are also less problematic compared to tilted panels. Vertical east-west bifacial panels create two production peaks - one in the morning and one in the late afternoon - when homes and businesses actually need power most, improving self-consumption and reducing grid stress.
First Irish Installation Already Underway
Dublin has opened its first biosolar project with vertical PV technology at the commercial business park. Over Easy Solar developed this project with 21 vertical VPV units of 5,376 kWp combined capacity integrated with the living green rooftop. The system comprises both solar PV and nature, where the green roof serves for rainwater management, thermal regulation improvement, and biodiversity provision, whereas the vertical solar panels generate renewable electricity without blocking the sunlight from the rooftop. The plants cool the PV panels and reflect sunlight on them due to the albedo effect, thereby increasing energy production.
Over Easy Solar's prefabricated vertical PV units are designed for flat and green roofs with limited load capacity, offering a lightweight, ballast-free, plug-and-play solution that unlocks rooftops where traditional solar installation was previously impossible.
Supportive Policy Environment
The timing of vertical PV's arrival is bolstered by Ireland's supportive solar policy framework. Since October 2022, most residential rooftop solar installations in Ireland have been exempt from planning permission. There is now no rooftop limit on houses, and new exemptions were introduced for apartments and certain non-domestic structures including hospitals, libraries, and places of worship.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) continues to offer residential rooftop solar grants of up to €1,800 for 2026. The government has confirmed that the grant will remain in place for the lifetime of the current administration. A 0 percent VAT rate on the supply and installation of solar panels further reduces the financial barrier for homeowners.
A Growing Market
Ireland's solar energy industry has grown tremendously. Solar Ireland's annual Scale of Solar 2026 report stated that, at the close of May 2026, the country had 2.7 GW of solar capacity connected which is an increase of 297 percent since 2023. It's expected that by the end of 2026, Ireland should have solar capacity exceeding 3.3 GW. Currently, there are more than 170,000 solar installations on rooftops across Ireland. Rooftops with micro-generation contribute about 800 MW of installed capacity.
Looking Ahead
As vertical rooftop PV technology establishes a foothold in the Irish market, industry observers are watching closely to see how planning authorities will address vertical configurations under existing solar exemptions. Specific details regarding manufacturers, commercial providers, and initial projects deploying these systems have not yet been fully published.
Nevertheless, the technology's arrival signals a new chapter for Irish solar. With its ability to perform in diffuse light, generate during morning and evening peaks, and integrate seamlessly with green roofs, vertical PV represents a promising addition to Ireland's renewable energy toolkit - one that could help the country push beyond the 3 GW milestone and toward even greater solar penetration in the years ahead.
