ESB Networks has confirmed it has 1GW of solar generation connected to Ireland’s grid.
This figure includes 500MW of utility-scale solar connections, 369MW of which is from larger projects connected to the transmission system, managed by EirGrid.
The figure also includes 300MW of microgeneration (mainly domestic rooftop solar) and 200MW of non-exporting solar generation.
1GW of solar power is enough to power the equivalent of approximately 400,000 homes when it is sunny. For context, peak demand on Ireland’s electricity system is approximately 5.5GW.
“The ‘rooftop revolution’ has seen solar panels becoming an increasing feature across every town and suburb of the country, providing clean, indigenous electricity on over 82,000 homes,” said Minister for Climate Eamon Ryan.
“This rapid scale up in micro- and small-scale generation has been mirrored in the rapid growth in the connection of utility-scale solar farms.
“Since I launched the first solar farm in County Wicklow in May 2022, there has been a major acceleration in the deployment of solar farms, providing new income streams to farmers, supporting jobs and benefitting communities across the country.
“Today’s announcement marks an important milestone in Ireland’s journey to 8GW of solar connections by 2030 and shows that even in ‘cloudy Ireland’ we can harness our homegrown green resources to power homes and businesses.”
ESB Networks managing director Nicholas Tarrant said: “Enabling the connection of 1GW of clean solar power onto Ireland’s electricity network is a significant collective achievement for ESB Networks, our solar industry partners and indeed the 82,000-strong cohort of microgeneration customers across Ireland.
“This scale of connections is underpinned by our sustained investment in a cleaner, more resilient, and more flexible electricity system. It is reducing our dependence on imported fossil fuels and ultimately delivering the electricity network for Ireland’s clean, electric future.”
The Irish Solar Energy Association’s Conall Bolger added: “Reaching 1GW of connected solar is a major milestone both for Ireland’s fight against climate change and for our solar industry.
“Meeting our climate action targets requires a significant contribution from solar electricity, connecting 1GW less than two years after Ireland’s first solar farm was energised demonstrates the genuine potential of solar.
“There is a strong pipeline of new solar farms currently under development and we must continue to support this momentum to enable Ireland to achieve its goal of 8GW of solar by 2030.”