Instant Benefits, Long-Term Impact: What Ireland’s Solar Surge Means for Homes, Businesses & Communities
Ireland’s solar story is changing and fast. As highlighted in Joe Dermody’s latest Irish Examiner interview with our CEO, Ronan Power, solar is now delivering instant savings, rapid payback, and long-term resilience for households and industries across the country.
Every week, almost 1,000 new rooftop solar systems are being connected. That’s nearly 1,000 families, farms, schools and SMEs reducing their energy bills, cutting emissions, and gaining more control over their energy future.
And the momentum is only building.
A Milestone Moment: Ireland Surpasses 2 GW of Solar Capacity
Only three years ago, Ireland had its first energised solar farm. Today, national capacity has surged past 2.1 GW, supported by more than 155,000 rooftop installations.
At peak this summer, solar met over 21% of national electricity demand—powering one in five light bulbs in the country. This makes solar the fastest-growing renewable energy source in Ireland.
Government, system operators and industry have enabled this progress together. As Minister Darragh O’Brien noted, solar is now “part of daily life,” powering homes, farms and businesses while strengthening Ireland’s 80% renewable electricity target for 2030.
What’s Driving This Acceleration?
In his Q&A, Ronan Power highlights the real-world impacts of Ireland’s solar boom:
Instant savings & rapid returns
Businesses and homeowners report immediate reductions in electricity bills—and in many cases, payback periods of 3–5 years.
Lower emissions & greater resilience
Solar helps cut nearly 400,000 tonnes of CO₂ each year, improves energy security, and reduces reliance on imported fossil fuels.
Economic opportunity
If Ireland reaches 8 GW by 2030, solar could deliver €2.7 billion in economic value and support 7,000+ jobs, according to the Sunrise report developed with KPMG.
Solar for all communities
More than 150,000 homes are already generating their own power — but solar’s benefits extend far beyond households. Utility-scale developers, farms, schools, agri-processors, logistics hubs and data-driven industries are all accelerating investment.
What’s Needed to Deliver the Next 6 GW?
Ireland has the ambition and the demand. To keep pace with growth, three actions are critical:
A modern, flexible grid
Faster, more efficient connections for rooftop, hybrid, and storage projects.Policy stability
Continued support for the SEAI domestic grant and a clear successor to RESS for utility-scale deployment.Equity and inclusion
Ensuring solar is accessible to every home, business and community — not just those with higher disposable incomes.
Initiatives like EnergyCloud, which uses excess renewable energy to reduce bills for families experiencing energy poverty, show the social potential of solar when innovation and inclusion work hand in hand.
Global Lessons, Local Success
Countries like Australia, the Netherlands, and Germany offer powerful models of widespread rooftop adoption, streamlined planning, and integrated storage.
Ireland can go further—by learning from these leaders while building a uniquely Irish pathway rooted in community benefit, distributed generation, and responsible land use.
As Ronan Power notes, “Ireland’s energy transition is no longer a future ambition—it’s happening now.”
Building Generation for Generations
Solar Ireland is proud to represent a sector delivering real change at real scale: new jobs, stronger communities, cleaner air, lower bills, and a more resilient energy system.
We now move forward with a shared mission:
8 GW of solar by 2030 - powering Ireland’s climate goals, strengthening energy independence, and ensuring every community benefits from the transition.
Read the full interview in the Irish Examiner and explore how solar is transforming Ireland’s energy future.