The outlook for Irish solar: what comes next

Solar, as a developing part of Ireland’s energy system, continues to scale at pace. While deployment has accelerated rapidly in recent years, the sector remains in a critical growth phase as Ireland works to integrate new capacity across rooftops, communities and utility-scale projects.

In a recent interview, Ronan Power, CEO of Solar Ireland, reflects on how far the sector has come and where the focus must shift next.

By the end of 2025, Ireland had surpassed 2 GW of installed solar capacity nationwide, including 1 GW of rooftop solar across more than 170,000 homes, farms, businesses and community buildings. This rapid uptake shows how quickly solar can scale when policy frameworks are clear, stable and accessible.

Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, the opportunity for solar remains strong. Utility-scale projects continue to progress through RESS and corporate power purchase agreements, while rooftop and on-site solar remain among the most cost-effective options for reducing energy costs across households, farms, SMEs and the public sector.

However, the conversation is evolving. The next phase of growth will be defined less by headline capacity and more by system integration and value. Grid delivery, battery storage, hybrid projects and efficient system operation are now central to maximising the benefits solar can deliver.

As Ronan notes, the outlook for Irish solar remains very positive. The task ahead is to ensure our planning, grid and policy frameworks continue to evolve in step with a sector that has firmly entered delivery mode.

Read the full interview here: Ronan Power: "The outlook for Irish solar is very positive"