EirGrid’s new data showed that Ireland reached a new milestone on the week starting 20 April – marking another step in the country’s energy transition.
April 29, 2026
According to EirGrid’s data, the amount of electricity generated by grid-scale solar PV power in Ireland peaked at over 1GW on several occasions last week. In comparison, March 2025 saw a peak of 750MW, and May 2025 saw a 755MW peak.
The 1GW record was set on 20 April around midday, reaching 1,021MW at 12:19 pm. At 12:08 pm on 24 April, it peaked at 1087MW, and on 25 April, it reached 1,122MW at 14:14 pm.
A growing trend of records was set in both recent months and summer 2025, according to EirGrid, with 21 March 2026 reaching 983MW. In that same month, renewable energy overall met 48.8% of Ireland’s electricity demand.
EirGrid credited the increasing number of grid-scale solar farms for the new peak and estimated that 1GW is sufficient to meet the power needs of around 500,000 customers (almost 10% of Ireland’s population).
The company’s data demonstrates that grid-scale solar is continuing to meet a rising amount of electricity demand. EirGrid explained that the average in 2023 was 1.1%, increasing to 2% in 2024 and 3.1% in 2025.
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Ireland’s new record peak relates to the power both generated by grid-scale solar farms and brought onto the transmission system during a set period. However, EirGrid additionally noted that embedded rooftop solar has also grown. 
The new milestone and the increasing number of grid-scale and rooftop solar sets an encouraging precedent for Ireland’s energy transition. EirGrid explained in its announcement that integrating renewables is vital to electrifying the economy, society, supporting households, and supporting the transport sector, such as EV infrastructure.
Cathal Marley, EirGrid’s Chief Executive, said: “The 1GW milestone recorded by the National Control Centre represents continued progress in integrating renewable energy onto the system, and managing the very 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 pivotal time for EirGrid, which also used the milestone to update on its transmission system work in the country. 
The Government of Ireland and the regulator recently dedicated an €18.9 billion (£16.38 billion) investment package to the development of the national electricity grid and network, which EirGrid says will be vital to bringing more renewable energy sources online. 
Darragh O’Brien, Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, said: "Over the coming years, wind and solar will play an increasingly significant role in powering homes, businesses and farms across the country.”
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“This is key to reducing our reliance on imported and volatile fossil fuels and to reducing prices for electricity customers.”
Marley added: “We’re committed to facilitating continued growth through the delivery of electricity infrastructure. This is essential to supporting the delivery of Government policy and targets in key areas such as housing, climate, enterprise, digitalisation and industry, benefiting our communities and wider society."
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Catie Owen
Contributing writer
Since 2019, Catie has been writing news, interviews, client content and editing magazines. In recent years, her interest in sustainability has led her to pursue renewable energy as her primary beat. Having written primarily about solar energy and storage, Catie also enjoys covering the positive human impact of renewable technology.
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