Press Release: IRELAND PASSES 3 GW OF SOLAR AS SECTOR SETS SIGHTS ON WHAT COMES NEXT

Solar Ireland welcomes major milestone as solar supplies more than one-third of national electricity demand at peak

Solar Ireland has welcomed confirmation that Ireland has passed 3 GW of installed solar capacity, marking another major step in the transformation of the country’s electricity system.

The milestone includes solar at every scale, from more than 200,000 homes with rooftop panels to businesses, farms, schools and utility-scale solar projects supplying clean electricity directly to the national grid, and it comes in a record-breaking week for the sector.

On Monday, utility-scale solar output reached a new high of 1.3 GW, supplying more than one-third of national electricity demand at peak.

Minister for Climate, Energy, and the Environment, Darragh O’Brien said,  “This week we have seen two major milestones for utility-scale solar – reaching 3 GW of installed solar capacity and establishing a new record for peak utility-scale solar farm generation [1.3 GW] at a given time on the grid. At times on Monday of this week, we saw utility-scale solar energy meeting just over a third of our total national electricity mix on the grid. These milestones highlight just how rapidly solar energy, including the growing rooftop revolution, is becoming a major part of our energy system. With continued investment in solar – across homes, farms, businesses and large grid-scale projects – Ireland is building a growing source of homegrown, clean electricity, and strengthening our energy security.”

The milestone reflects close collaboration between Government and industry. Solar Ireland and its members work closely with Minister O’Brien and his Department to support the continued growth of solar, from rooftop deployment to the policies needed to accelerate renewable energy delivery across the country. That collaboration will remain critical as Ireland moves into the next phase of its energy transition.

CEO of Solar Ireland Ronan Power said reaching 3 GW shows just how quickly Ireland’s solar sector has developed: “Three gigawatts is a big moment for Irish solar. But for me, the really exciting part is how quickly we got here. Ireland’s first utility-scale solar farm was only connected to the grid in 2022. Four years later, we have more than 200,000 homes with solar on their roofs, businesses generating their own electricity and solar power plants capable of supplying more than a third of national electricity demand at peak. That tells us something important. Ireland can build solar, and we can build it quickly. There has been huge investment and commitment behind that growth from Government, industry, communities and everyone involved in getting these projects connected. Now we need to make the most of it.”

Solar Ireland said the milestone comes at an important time for Ireland’s energy policy, with the Government considering further measures to address the structural cost of energy and Budget 2027 approaching.

The association believes the next phase of solar growth should focus not only on adding more generation, but on helping more households and businesses participate and ensuring Ireland can capture more of the value from the clean electricity it produces.

Solar Ireland is calling for measures in Budget 2027 to support greater deployment of rooftop solar and battery storage, alongside continued investment in the electricity system and the flexibility needed to use renewable generation more effectively.

Ronan Power continued: “We have spent the last few years proving that solar can deliver. The next question is how much value we can get from it. For a family, that means being able to generate more of their own electricity and have greater control over their bills. For a business, it means reducing energy costs and becoming more competitive. For the country, it means producing more of our energy here at home and reducing our exposure to imported fossil fuels. And as we generate more solar, storage becomes increasingly important. We need to be able to take the clean electricity we produce in the middle of the day and use more of it when people need it later. Budget 2027 is an opportunity to build on what is already working. Three gigawatts is something worth celebrating, but it is also a glimpse of what is possible. We have built the generation. Now we need to unlock its full value.”

Nicholas Tarrant, Managing Director, ESB Networks added, “This milestone underlines the growing role solar energy is playing in Ireland’s journey to a low-carbon future. The contribution of both domestic solar panels and major renewable developers delivering large-scale projects has been instrumental in passing the 3 GW threshold. ESB Networks is currently delivering a major programme of investment in the Irish electricity network under Price Review 6 to enable the further growth of renewables and support Ireland’s transition to a clean electric future.”