Ireland’s high-voltage transmission system operator Eirgrid has reported that grid-scale solar PV generation has surpassed 1 GW, attributing the achievement to the growing number of grid-connected solar farms. The first 1 GW-plus peak of 1,021 MW was recorded on Monday, April 20, at 12:19 pm, followed by higher peaks of 1,087 MW on Friday, April 24, at 12:08 pm and 1,133 MW the next day at 2:14 pm.
By comparison, grid-scale solar peaks in March and May 2025 were just over 750 MW, while the previous record before April was 983 MW on March 21. All generation data is tracked by Eirgrid’s National Control Centre.
Eirgrid’s CEO Cathal Marley noted that the rising large-scale PV generation reflects Ireland’s progress in integrating renewable energy and “managing the very complex and technical task of balancing different forms of renewable and conventional generation on the system” to meet national demand. Despite the solar milestones, onshore wind remains Ireland’s most prolific renewable power source.
Eirgrid’s annual metered data shows the share of electricity demand met by grid-scale solar has gradually increased, reaching 3.1% in 2025, up from 1.1% in 2023 and 2% in 2024. Solar Ireland revealed that Ireland’s cumulative PV installed capacity across all segments surpassed 2.3 GW by December 2025, with 1 GW added in 2025 alone; its grid-scale solar development pipeline stands at around 1.7 GW, and recent updates put total installed capacity at 2.5 GW.
A key challenge for Ireland is timely grid connection of new solar projects. The government has invested heavily in grid infrastructure, approving a €1.1 billion ($1.29 billion) dedicated grids funding package in October 2025—its largest ever. This investment is critical: Montel Energy reported Ireland curtailed almost 89 GWh of solar generation in H1 2025, with solar curtailment having increased seven-fold since 2022, as the system “struggles to cope with the rapid increase in solar generation capacity,” according to Montel Energy analyst Fintan Devenney.
Slow energy storage development contributes to the issue, and Ireland is taking action to integrate storage into its energy markets. In April, utilities regulator CRU announced that renewable energy projects can now share a grid connection, allowing co-located solar and battery systems to operate under a single connection— a move welcomed by Solar Ireland CEO Ronan Power as a way to maximize the existing grid’s potential.
