Reducing Ireland’s Carbon Emissions by 270,000 Tonnes
According to the 2024 Scale of Solar report from the Irish Solar Energy Association (ISEA), Ireland’s solar electricity capacity has surged by nearly 43%. An average of 65 homes now install solar panels daily, taking advantage of zero VAT and the option to sell excess energy back to the grid.
This rapid growth means Ireland now has a total solar capacity of 1,185MW, with 373MW coming from domestic rooftops alone. This provides enough electricity from solar energy for homes to meet the annual needs of 248,000 households and reduces Ireland’s carbon emissions by an impressive 270,000 tonnes.
Ireland’s Solar Revolution
Solar energy is playing an increasingly crucial role in Ireland’s electricity generation, according to the ISEA. Environment and Climate Minister Eamon Ryan praised this rapid growth, stating that the significant increase in solar generation over just two years demonstrates the power of collaboration between society, government, and industry.
Ryan outlined Ireland’s goal to fully decarbonize its electricity system within the next 10 to 15 years, with solar power set to play a key and predictable role. The country’s ambitious target is to achieve 8GW of solar capacity by 2030.
“The results of this research show that Ireland is making significant progress towards achieving its ambitious objective of 8GW of solar power by 2030 and illustrates the significant advancements that have been made in a short amount of time,” Ryan noted.
Impact of Solar Energy on Ireland’s Electricity Production
Electricity from residential rooftop panels reached 373MW, an increase of nearly 80% in just one year. Large solar farms contributed 594MW, up from 349MW in 2023, while MiniGeneration—often installed by businesses and farms—jumped to 26MW, a more than five-fold rise from the 5MW recorded in 2023.
Conall Bolger, CEO of ISEA, highlighted solar energy’s transformative impact on Ireland’s electricity production. Just two years after the first solar farm became operational, 13 are now on the grid, supplying 594MW of capacity. He noted that several more are in various stages of construction or awaiting connection. The adoption of rooftop solar by homeowners has been another notable area of growth, underscoring the Irish population’s dedication to climate action.
Contributing to Ireland’s Climate Action Plan Targets
Conall Bolger also emphasized the potential for expansion in mini-generation and small-scale generation, highlighting how it offers financial benefits for businesses and farmers while helping them contribute to clean energy production.
Nicholas Tarrant, CEO of ESB Networks, was pleased to announce that nearly 1,200MW of solar generation had been integrated into their network by midsummer.
He added that ESB Networks anticipates connecting nearly 1,600MW of solar power by the end of 2024, ranging from domestic rooftop installations to large-scale utility projects. This growth positions solar as Ireland’s most rapidly expanding renewable energy source and is crucial for achieving the country’s Climate Action Plan targets.
With over 20,000 homes now adopting solar panels each year, Ireland’s embrace of solar energy is clear. This growth not only represents a nearly 43% increase in solar capacity but also underscores the nation’s firm commitment to renewable energy and achieving its climate action goals.
