Heatwave helps deliver a record month for solar power generation

Astellas solar farm delivered in conjunction with Greenvolt Next.

The heatwave in June helped deliver a new monthly record for solar power generation with more than 8% of the country's demand coming from the source.

New data from grid operator Eirgrid shows renewables of all types delivered more than 42% of 2,676 gigawatt hours (GWh) of energy demand last month.

The solar contribution compares to 7.8% in May and to 5.3% in June of last year. Wind energy still contributes significantly more renewable energy at 31% of overall demand. Total generation of wind amounted to 821 GWh.

Gas generation accounted for 40% of all electricity used, and 17% of our energy needs was imported via interconnection.   

EirGrid has recently published its new strategy for the next five years, aiming to enable much higher levels of renewable electricity, clean technologies and a more flexible power system. A goal is to enable the power system to be capable of operating with up to 95% renewable sources at any one time by 2030 and 100% by 2035. Currently, up to 75% of electricity can be generated from renewables at any one time.

Charlie McGee, EirGrid’s System Operational Manager, said: “June was yet another record month for the amount of solar energy powering the electricity system in Ireland.

“While this might have been expected given the sunny weather that we saw during the month, it is also reflective of the progress that we have made in integrating large grid-scale solar farms onto the system. It follows a number of other solar-related records so far this year, including reaching a peak of over 1 GW of electricity provided by grid-scale solar power.”

There is a continued rollout of new solar farms across the country. This week, plans were lodged for a 13.6-hectare solar farm on farmland near Cloyne that would operate for up to four decades if approved.

BNRG Ballyduff Ltd has applied to Cork County Council for permission to develop the solar farm on lands at Ballyduff, around 1.6km west of the East Cork village.  

The proposal includes ground-mounted solar panels, four medium-voltage stations, access tracks, security fencing, CCTV poles, landscaping and associated site works. Access would be provided from the L3630 via an entrance previously permitted under an earlier planning permission.

Separately, Waterford's Greenvolt Next has won the contract to install three solar farm sites across Cork for Amarenco for developments in Carrigaline, Cobh and Timoleague. All three sites are earmarked for completion by the middle of 2027.