11/08/2026
July Sunshine Delivers New Solar Record For Ireland’s Power System
EirGrid, the operator and developer of Ireland's electricity grid, said renewables delivered 32% of electricity in July, marginally below 33% in the same month last year.
Solar generation set a fresh monthly record, with grid-scale solar contributing 9.4% to the overall fuel mix, up from 8.2% in June and 7.8% in May.
Wind power accounted for 22% of total output, producing 614 GWh (gigawatt hours) across the month.
Gas-fired generation provided 43% of electricity, while 24% of supply was imported via interconnectors.
Total electricity demand reached 2,744 GWh in July, compared with 2,676 GWh in June.
EirGrid said it balances supply and demand from its National Control Centre around the clock while planning for long-term needs. The power system can now safely operate with up to 75% of electricity coming from variable renewables such as wind and solar at any one time, with work under way to raise this to 95%.
Diarmaid Gillespie, EirGrid's Director of System Operations, said: "July was another record-breaking month for the amount of solar energy powering our electricity system and again demonstrates just how increasingly important solar power has become as a source of renewable energy in Ireland.
"This follows a significant first half of the year for renewable energy with us seeing a number of other notable milestones including a new record for wind generation in February and reaching a peak of over 1 GW (gigawatt) of electricity provided by grid-scale solar power for the first time in April."
Solar generation set a fresh monthly record, with grid-scale solar contributing 9.4% to the overall fuel mix, up from 8.2% in June and 7.8% in May.
Wind power accounted for 22% of total output, producing 614 GWh (gigawatt hours) across the month.
Gas-fired generation provided 43% of electricity, while 24% of supply was imported via interconnectors.
Total electricity demand reached 2,744 GWh in July, compared with 2,676 GWh in June.
Diarmaid Gillespie, EirGrid's Director of System Operations, said: "July was another record-breaking month for the amount of solar energy powering our electricity system and again demonstrates just how increasingly important solar power has become as a source of renewable energy in Ireland.
"This follows a significant first half of the year for renewable energy with us seeing a number of other notable milestones including a new record for wind generation in February and reaching a peak of over 1 GW (gigawatt) of electricity provided by grid-scale solar power for the first time in April."
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Biomass Power Station To Be Developed In Mayo
Mayo Renewable Power has confirmed it has secured money to build its wood chip biomass power station in Killala, County Mayo. The 42.5MW Electricity Generating Station and Biomass Fuel Processing Facility will cost €180m and will qualify for Ireland's Renewable Energy Feed-In Tariff (REFIT) programme.
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Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Cloudy in the evening as occasionally heavy rain spreads east with a small chance of thunder. Scattered showers feed in from the west overnight, some clear spells in the east. Minimum temperature 13 °C.