Jun 26, 2025
Ireland's solar power capacity reaches 1.76 GW.
The "Scale of Solar 2025" report from Solar Ireland states that Ireland's solar capacity has increased by nearly 160% since 2023, with installed PV capacity growing by 156.8% over two years, based on data from ESB Networks as of May 31.
However, Ireland is still far from its 2030 goal of 8 GW of installed PV, having reached 1.76 GW by the end of May. Utility-scale solar farms are the main contributors to this growth, directly supplying power to the grid. The report also highlights the impact of micro-generation and small-scale solar, thanks to government incentives promoting self-consumption.
Ronan Power, CEO of Solar Ireland, emphasized that 2025 is a crucial year for solar's role in Ireland's energy strategy. The growth of utility-scale solar is evident, with the first large-scale solar farm operational in County Meath in 2022. By 2025, 885 MW is installed across 19 sites, up from 349 MW in 2023, with an additional 752 MW in various projects.
The report indicates that commercial and industrial (C&I) installations are particularly significant, offering notable energy savings while remaining manageable in size to sidestep grid connection issues. By mid-2025, 2.29 MW is connected at seven C&I sites, an increase from 0.3 MW in 2023.
Small-scale solar installations (50 kVA to 200 kVA) are also rising, aided by government programs like Solar for Schools. By mid-2025, Ireland had 40 MW connected across 328 small-scale sites.
Mini-generation systems (17-50 VA) for self-consumption are benefiting small businesses and homes, bolstering the rural economy. As of mid-2025, there are 55 MW of mini-generation capacity across 2,050 connections, more than double the previous year, driven by better grant access and increased agricultural awareness.
A tennis club reported saving €6,000 annually on electricity and achieving a 20% reduction in grid consumption through a grant-supported setup of 19 solar panels in partnership with Ohk Energy in 2024.
By mid-2025, Ireland had 135 MW of operational auto-production capacity at 840 connections, an increase from 95 MW in 2023. This generation primarily serves data centers, water treatment facilities, and agricultural businesses with high energy needs.
In the micro-generation sector, over 138,000 homes were producing their own electricity by mid-2025, equating to 576 MW of capacity. National estimates indicate that over a million rooftops in Ireland are solar-compatible, though only 13.8% have been adapted for solar use.
However, Ireland is still far from its 2030 goal of 8 GW of installed PV, having reached 1.76 GW by the end of May. Utility-scale solar farms are the main contributors to this growth, directly supplying power to the grid. The report also highlights the impact of micro-generation and small-scale solar, thanks to government incentives promoting self-consumption.
Ronan Power, CEO of Solar Ireland, emphasized that 2025 is a crucial year for solar's role in Ireland's energy strategy. The growth of utility-scale solar is evident, with the first large-scale solar farm operational in County Meath in 2022. By 2025, 885 MW is installed across 19 sites, up from 349 MW in 2023, with an additional 752 MW in various projects.
The report indicates that commercial and industrial (C&I) installations are particularly significant, offering notable energy savings while remaining manageable in size to sidestep grid connection issues. By mid-2025, 2.29 MW is connected at seven C&I sites, an increase from 0.3 MW in 2023.
Small-scale solar installations (50 kVA to 200 kVA) are also rising, aided by government programs like Solar for Schools. By mid-2025, Ireland had 40 MW connected across 328 small-scale sites.
Mini-generation systems (17-50 VA) for self-consumption are benefiting small businesses and homes, bolstering the rural economy. As of mid-2025, there are 55 MW of mini-generation capacity across 2,050 connections, more than double the previous year, driven by better grant access and increased agricultural awareness.
A tennis club reported saving €6,000 annually on electricity and achieving a 20% reduction in grid consumption through a grant-supported setup of 19 solar panels in partnership with Ohk Energy in 2024.
By mid-2025, Ireland had 135 MW of operational auto-production capacity at 840 connections, an increase from 95 MW in 2023. This generation primarily serves data centers, water treatment facilities, and agricultural businesses with high energy needs.
In the micro-generation sector, over 138,000 homes were producing their own electricity by mid-2025, equating to 576 MW of capacity. National estimates indicate that over a million rooftops in Ireland are solar-compatible, though only 13.8% have been adapted for solar use.