A detailed guide to the SEAI Declaration of Works Part 1 form — required fields, dual signatures, pre-2021 property requirements, the 8-month submission window, BER requirements, and grant amounts for Irish solar PV installers.
The Declaration of Works (DOW) Part 1 is a SEAI form that confirms a solar PV system has been installed at an eligible property by a registered installer, in accordance with the technical requirements of the SEAI Residential Solar PV grant scheme. It is one of three core compliance documents Irish solar installers must produce for every grant-eligible installation — the others being the NC6 Microgeneration Notification for ESB Networks and the ITC Part 2 Inspection, Test & Commissioning certificate.
The DOW is submitted by the homeowner as part of their SEAI grant claim, but it must be completed and signed by both the homeowner and the SEAI registered installer. It serves as the primary confirmation document that the grant conditions have been met.
Before filling the DOW, it is worth confirming the installation is eligible, because the DOW cannot be submitted for an ineligible property:
The pre-2021 requirement is the most common eligibility pitfall. Always confirm the build year before proceeding.
As of 2025, the SEAI residential solar grant is structured as follows:
| System Size | Grant Amount |
|---|---|
| Up to 2 kWp | €2,100 |
| 2–4 kWp (per additional kWp) | €300 per kWp |
| Battery storage (min. 2 kWh) | €600 |
The maximum grant for panels alone is €2,400 (for a 3 kWp system) plus €300 for each additional kWp up to the cap. Battery storage can add €600. Most systems in the 4–6 kWp range with battery are eligible for grants in the €2,400–€3,000 range before the battery element.
These figures are subject to change — always confirm current rates on seai.ie.
The DOW is a multi-section form. Here is what each section requires:
The date of commissioning. This must be accurate — SEAI cross-references this against the ITC form and may query discrepancies.
The DOW Part 1 requires two signatures:
Both signatures must be present for the form to be valid. This is a frequent delay point — installers often send the form to the homeowner after the installation but homeowners don't return it promptly.
Circaidian supports this through electronic signatures on SEAI forms, which can be collected from the homeowner remotely via a secure link, avoiding the need to physically exchange paper.
The grant claim — including the DOW — must be submitted to SEAI within 8 months of the date of installation. If you miss this window, the grant is forfeited. There are no extensions.
This 8-month clock starts from the installation date as stated on the DOW. Practically, most installers aim to submit within 4–6 weeks of completion, but workload and homeowner delays sometimes push this out. Track this deadline carefully for every job.
The homeowner's property must have a valid BER certificate at the time of grant claim. If the property does not have one, the homeowner must commission a BER assessment (typically €150–€300) from a SEAI registered BER assessor before the grant claim can be submitted.
A common workflow issue arises when the installer completes the DOW but the homeowner does not yet have a BER. The DOW cannot be submitted until the BER number is available to include on the form.
Best practice: when you take on an installation, ask the homeowner to locate their BER certificate immediately. If they do not have one, factor the time for a BER assessment into your project timeline.
The DOW is one component of the SEAI grant application. Read our full 7-step guide to the SEAI Solar PV grant process for installers, which covers every stage from registration through to grant payment.
The complete set of documents for a grant claim includes:
Incorrect MPRN — the MPRN on the DOW must match the one on the NC6 and on the homeowner's electricity account. A mismatch causes SEAI to query the claim.
Missing BER number — the form cannot be submitted without it.
System size discrepancy — the kWp figure on the DOW must match the ITC and the NC6. If these differ, SEAI will request clarification.
Installer not registered — SEAI cross-checks the installer number against their registered contractor database. If your registration has lapsed, claims will be rejected.
Homeowner signature missing — the DOW requires both signatures. Always build a process to collect the homeowner's signature before submission.
Build year not verified — submitting a DOW for a post-2021 new build will result in rejection. Confirm the build year before installation.
Completing the DOW manually from your Scoops post-installation report is a transcription exercise — address, MPRN, panel model, inverter model, system size, installation date — all copied by hand from one document to a PDF form.
With Circaidian:
The homeowner signature can be collected electronically (read about e-signatures on SEAI forms), and once both signatures are in place, the DOW is ready to submit with the grant claim.
See how to automate your entire compliance paperwork workflow →
Circaidian automatically generates your NC6 Microgeneration Notification, Declaration of Works Part 1, and Inspection, Test & Commissioning Part 2 from your Scoops report. One upload, three compliant forms, seconds not hours.
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