Heatwave boosts Ireland's solar power contribution to grid

Ireland's electricity grid saw a notable increase in solar power generation last month, reaching 9.4% of the total supply in July. This rise, attributed in part to the recent heatwave, marks a significant jump from 5.7% in July of the previous year. EirGrid, the operator of the country's electricity grid, reported that this boost helped push the overall share of electricity from renewable sources to 32.3%.

However, the growth in renewables was tempered by a decline in wind power, which fell from 24.1% in July 2025 to 22.4% last month. Supply from 'other renewables' also saw a sharp decrease, dropping from 2.3% to just 0.5%. This offset the gains made by solar, resulting in only a marginal year-on-year increase for the renewable sector as a whole.

Despite the push for renewables, fossil fuels, particularly natural gas, continued to dominate Ireland's energy landscape. Gas accounted for over 43% of the electricity supply in July, although this is a decrease from approximately 51% recorded in the same month last year. Simultaneously, electricity imports played a larger role, meeting nearly 24% of the country's needs, a substantial rise from just over 15% in July 2025.

Overall electricity demand in July was 2,744 GWh, showing a slight decrease compared to the 2,734 GWh used in July 2025. The data highlights the ongoing transition in Ireland's energy mix, with solar power emerging as a stronger contributor, while challenges remain in fully capitalizing on wind energy and reducing reliance on imported electricity and natural gas.