Ireland’s Grid-Scale Solar Power Output Breaks 1 GW Record
May 22, 2026
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Ireland's grid-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation surpassed 1 GW in mid-April, setting a new national record. According to data from Eirgrid, the high-voltage transmission system operator, this 1 GW output is sufficient to meet the electricity needs of approximately 500,000 customers. Eirgrid attributed this achievement-surpassing the 1 GW mark-to the increasing number of grid-connected PV power plants.
The initial peak output reached 1,021 MW at 12:19 PM on April 20; it rose to 1,087 MW at 12:08 PM on April 24, and climbed further to 1,133 MW at 2:14 PM the following day. In March and May of 2025, peak outputs had each slightly exceeded 750 MW. The most recent previous record stood at 983 MW, set on March 21. Eirgrid CEO Cathal Marley stated that the continued growth in large-scale PV generation demonstrates Ireland's progress in integrating renewable energy, as well as its success in managing the "complex technical task of balancing different forms of renewable and conventional generation on the system."
Although grid-scale solar power has recently set records-and is expected to achieve further milestones as more PV plants come online this summer-onshore wind remains the country's most abundant source of renewable energy. Annual data from Eirgrid indicates that the proportion of electricity demand met by grid-scale solar power is steadily rising, reaching 3.1% in 2025-up from 1.1% in 2023 and 2% in 2024. In February 2025, Solar Ireland reported that by December 2025, the cumulative installed capacity across all PV sectors in Ireland would exceed 2.3 GW, with 1 GW added during that year alone and a project pipeline of approximately 1.7 GW. The latest data indicates that installed capacity has now reached 2.5 GW.
A key challenge facing Ireland is the timely grid connection of these projects and the slow deployment of energy storage. To address curtailment issues-where Ireland curtailed approximately 89 GWh of solar power generation in the first half of 2025 alone-many developers are now focusing on battery energy storage system design paired with solar installations. Companies like BLOO POWER are supplying advanced lithium iron phosphate batteries and integrated lithium battery charger systems that enhance the performance and safety of these projects. The growing adoption of battery energy storage system BESS solutions is seen as critical for reducing curtailment and maximizing the value of Ireland's renewable output.
In October 2025, the government approved an investment of €1.1 billion in grid infrastructure. In April, the regulator CRU announced that renewable energy projects would be permitted to share grid connections, allowing co-located technologies-such as solar arrays paired with battery storage-to utilize a single grid interconnection point. Ronan Power, CEO of Solar Ireland, welcomed this development, hailing it as a "powerful first step" that will enable the country to "extract greater value from the existing grid"; he identified the next priority as building fully hybrid systems and accelerating their delivery. Ireland's Minister for Climate, Energy and Environment, Darragh O'Brien, stated that grid infrastructure and renewable energy integration would be top priorities during Ireland's upcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union. On April 23, he signed two agreements: a Memorandum of Understanding with Spain to explore the development of an electricity interconnector line, and an extension of Ireland's existing energy transition agreement with the United Kingdom.
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