According to EirGrid data, the amount of electricity generated by solar PV in Ireland peaked at more than 1GW several times in the past week. For comparison, March 2025 had a peak of 750 MW and May 2025 had a peak of 755 MW.
The 1GW record was set around noon on April 20, reaching 1,021 MW at 12:19 p.m. On April 24 at 12:08 PM it peaked at 1,087 MW, and on April 25 it reached 1,122 MW at 2:14 PM.
According to EirGrid, a growing trend of records has been set in recent months as well as in the summer of 2025, reaching 983 MW on March 21, 2026. In the same month, renewable energy in general met 48.8% of Ireland’s electricity demand.
EirGrid credited the increasing number of grid-scale solar farms for the new peak, estimating that 1 GW is sufficient to meet the power needs of around 500,000 customers (nearly 10% of the Irish population).
The company’s data shows that grid-scale solar continues to meet rising electricity demand. EirGrid explained that the average in 2023 was 1.1%, rising to 2% in 2024 and 3.1% in 2025.
Reaching new heights
Ireland’s new record peak relates to the power generated by grid-scale solar farms and fed into the transmission system over a period of time. However, EirGrid also noted that embedded solar on rooftops has also grown.
The new milestone and increasing grid and rooftop solar power sets an encouraging precedent for Ireland’s energy transition. EirGrid explained in its announcement that the integration of renewable energy sources is critical to electrifying the economy and society, supporting households and supporting the transport sector such as EV infrastructure.
Cathal Marley, Chief Executive of EirGrid, said: “The 1GW milestone recorded by the National Control Center represents continued progress in integrating renewable energy into the system and managing the highly complex and technical task of balancing different forms of renewable and conventional generation on the system to ensure we meet national demand.”
The news comes at a crucial time for EirGrid, which also used the milestone to keep abreast of its transmission system work in the country.
Ireland’s government and regulator recently spent a €18.9 billion (£16.38 billion) investment package on developing the national electricity grid and network, which EirGrid says will be key to bringing more renewables online.
Darragh O’Brien, Minister for Climate, Energy and Environment, said: “In the coming years, wind and solar energy will play an increasingly important role in powering homes, businesses and farms across the country.”
“This is critical to reducing our dependence on imported and volatile fossil fuels and lowering prices for electricity customers.”
Marley added: “We are committed to facilitating continued growth through the delivery of electricity infrastructure. This is essential to supporting the implementation of government policies and goals in key areas such as housing, climate, entrepreneurship, digitalisation and industry, which benefits our communities and wider society.”
