Ireland reaches 400 MW of operational distributed-generation solar (2024)

New figures from Ireland’s ESB Networks reveal that the country has surpassed 1.2 GW of cumulative installed PV capacity, with the residential segment accounting for 20% of the total capacity installed over the past six months.

Blathnaid O'Dea

According to new figures from Ireland’s distribution system operator (DSO) ESB Networks, the country now has more than 100,000 rooftop solar projects, cumulatively adding more than 400 MW of clean energy to the national grid.

“The delivery of 100,000 rooftop solar renewable generator connections is significant,” said Nicholas Tarrant, managing director at Ireland DSO ESB Networks. “Solar energy is Ireland’s fastest growing renewable power source, and the 400 MW of microgeneration complements a further 800 MW of larger scale solar connected in recent years. It is testament to customers choosing to significantly reduce their carbon footprint and help displace the use of imported fossil fuels.”

According to ESB Networks, the rooftop momentum has been building in recent times, with 20% of the total current capacity installed over the past six months. Moreover, ESB Networks said in a statement that it is continuing to progress with about 750 microgeneration connection applications per week.

“Irish people are mature enough and responsive to the solar market for home energy production,” Andrea Mansoldo, consultant at DNV, and an expert in the Irish energy market, told pv magazine.

Mansoldo added that regulatory changes, such as the removal of what he called the “silly constraint” on rooftop solar installations may have also helped boost adoption. Prior to 2022, there was a limit of 12 square meters on the amount of solar that could be installed on rooftops in Ireland.

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The bumper June 2024 edition of pv magazine examines the state of national grids across key European markets as the region’s solar boom continues, considers the role small-scale PV arrays are playing in transforming the energy systems of Brazil and China, and studies the rising importance of artificial intelligence and algorithms when generating grid-related revenue from battery sites.

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Another positive contributing development, according to Mansoldo, has been the microgeneration scheme which enables households to be paid for any excess renewable energy they generate. Different providers offer different feed-in-tariff rates; at the time of publication the rates varied from around €0.16 ($0.17)/kWh to €0.25/kWh.

Conall Bolger, CEO of the Irish Solar Energy Association (ISEA), agreed with Mansoldo and Tarrant that the milestone reflects a growing excitement within the Irish population for solar technology. “It is driven by its environmental benefits and potential cost savings,” he told pv magazine.

However, Bolger reiterated his previous warnings that as more homes embrace solar, the need for grid upgrades becomes more urgent. “Upgrading our grid infrastructure will ensure that these renewable energy sources can be effectively integrated into our energy system, enhancing reliability, and maximizing the benefits of solar power.”

The lack of a sophisticated grid is one of the main factors holding Irish solar back. However, the government put aside an allotment in October 2023 of €380 million in funding for residential and community upgrade schemes, which included a solar PV grant scheme for homeowners, as well as a €500 million scheme announced in April of this year allowing homeowners to borrow between €5,000 and €75,000 for terms of up to 10 years to carry out retrofit projects on their homes.

Mark O’Donoghue, of Southern Solar Electrical, a PV installation company based in Cork, believes these schemes have contributed to the rooftop deployment milestone announced by ESB Networks.

“There is no better time than the present … with current prices of electricity and current prices of materials, with the grants available for both businesses and domestic, it is certainly the best time to invest. Businesses are seeing returns on their investment in two to three years in Ireland,” he said. “Domestics are seeing returns on their investments in four to five years.”

O’Donoghue said his customers are choosing to install solar for environmental reasons as well as the impact on their electricity bills. He agreed with Bolger’s point on the urgent need to improve grid infrastructure, adding that Ireland needs to focus on battery energy storage systems and vehicle-to-grid technology.

The battery push is already underway according to O’Donoghue, who said that he recommends batteries for around 95% of the installations his company does. Domestic and commercial customers alike are seeing the benefits of being able to offset their peak loads. “Solar is for everybody. There is nobody that doesn’t benefit from solar.”

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Ireland reaches 400 MW of operational distributed-generation solar (2024)

FAQs

Ireland reaches 400 MW of operational distributed-generation solar? ›

Ireland reaches 400 MW of operational distributed-generation solar. New figures from Ireland's ESB Networks reveal that the country has surpassed 1.2 GW of cumulative installed PV capacity, with the residential segment accounting for 20% of the total capacity installed over the past six months.

How much solar power does Ireland have? ›

Ireland has surpassed 1.2GW of cumulative installed solar PV capacity, with the residential segment of the market making up 20% of the total additional capacity installed over the past six months.

How many homes have solar panels in Ireland? ›

Currently, 50,000 homes in Ireland have solar panels installed, with 17,000 solar installations being connected to the grid in 2022.

What is the solar target in Ireland? ›

The Irish government established the goal of 8 GW solar installed capacity by 2030 last year when the published its “Climate Action Plan 2023”. In Ireland around 680 MW of solar power has been deployed across 59,888 generators, according to a recent report by ISEA.

Is solar energy used in Ireland? ›

ESB Networks estimates that almost 1GW of solar will be connected to the electricity grid by 2023, making the solar industry the fastest-growing renewable power source in Ireland.

How many megawatts of electricity does Ireland generate? ›

As of 2021 the island of Ireland has 5,585 megawatt and the Republic of Ireland has 4,309 MW of installed wind power nameplate capacity, the third highest per capita in the world. In 2020, wind turbines generated 36.3% of Ireland's electrical demand, one of the highest wind power penetrations in the world.

Is Ireland 100% renewable energy? ›

Around 57.6% of the electricity supplied by Irish energy providers came from renewable energy sources in 2022. This is according to the latest information published by the CRU in thier Fuel Mix and Emissions report for 2022, published in late 2023.

Is solar power worth it in Ireland? ›

On average, people experience up to a 50% reduction in their electricity bills with solar panels. Additionally, the SEAI offers a grant of up to €2100 for solar panel installations. While solar panels won't make you completely off-grid, they contribute significantly to reducing electricity costs.

What is the maximum number of solar panels allowed in Ireland? ›

For solar panel installations on domestic rooftops, there is no limit to the area of solar panels which can be installed on rooftops of homes, anywhere in the country.

What country has the most solar panels in the world? ›

1. China. China dominates the solar energy sector, producing 77.8% of the world's solar panels and possessing 393GW of solar capacity in 2022. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), China built more solar panels in 2023 than the entire world did in 2022.

What are Ireland's 2030 targets? ›

The renewable electricity target is commonly referred to as the RES-E target. Ireland's NECP 2021-2030 includes a planned RES-E of 70% in 2030, which will ensure that renewable electricity continues to form the backbone of our renewable energy use for the coming decade and beyond.

How efficient are solar panels in Ireland? ›

Efficiency is affected by a number of factors, but in Ireland solar panels on homes and businesses tend to be between 15 and 24 percent efficient.

What is the solar policy in Ireland? ›

It supports a target of installing up to 380MW (approximately 1 million solar panels) of microgeneration capacity as part of Ireland's overall solar targets under the government's Climate Action Plan.

How many people in Ireland have solar panels? ›

The report also highlights how almost 60,000 residential homes in Ireland now have solar panels on their rooftops, resulting in over 200MW being connected to the grid, with up to 500 inform and fit (NC6) applications processed every week.

What is the biggest source of renewable energy in Ireland today? ›

To date, wind energy has been the most significant source of renewable electricity in Ireland. Installed wind capacity has increased to 5,510 MW across the island of Ireland.

Can you heat a house with solar panels in Ireland? ›

Every bit of electricity you use is converted into heat. As well as providing a constant supply of renewable energy, solar panels in Ireland make complete sense for homeowners looking to unlock the potential of an all-electric heating system.

What country has the highest use of solar power? ›

China is undoubtedly the global leader in solar energy generation and consumption, boasting an installed capacity of over 393GW in 2022 - a significant portion of the world's total solar capacity.

What is the solar constant in Ireland? ›

The Solar Constant

What is the average energy falling normally on an area of 5 m2 of ground in Ireland in 1 minute? The solar constant is 1.35 kW m-2.

Are there many solar farms in Ireland? ›

A total of 371MW of solar farms on approximately 2,000 acres (ac) of land is now exporting renewable electricity to the grid. The generation figures were contained in a new report from the Irish Solar Energy Association, which details how 599,131MWh of electricity is now being generated annually from solar electricity.

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