Ireland has crossed 3 GW of installed solar capacity across rooftop and utility-scale projects
Utility-scale solar recently reached a record 1.3 GW, exceeding one-third of national electricity demand at peak
The sector is now looking toward greater rooftop solar, battery storage and further grid investment
Ireland’s installed solar capacity has surpassed 3 GW, marking a major milestone for the country’s rapidly expanding solar sector. The figure covers both rooftop installations and utility-scale solar farms, according to the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment.
The pace of growth has accelerated sharply. Ireland took three years to more than double its installed solar capacity and cross 2 GW in November 2025. It has now added another 1 GW in less than a year, taking total capacity beyond 3 GW (see Ireland’s Cumulative Installed Solar PV Capacity Exceeds 2 GW).
The 3 GW solar PV milestone comes days after utility-scale solar generation reached a record 1.3 GW on Ireland’s national grid. At the peak, solar supplied more than one-third of national electricity demand, the department said.
The Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien shared, “Just over 10 years ago there were 2 MW (MegaWatts) of solar in Ireland. Now there are over 3,000 MW (MegaWatts).” He added, “These milestones highlight just how rapidly solar energy, including the growing rooftop revolution, is becoming a major part of our energy system.”
EirGrid CEO Cathal Marley said grid-scale solar generation had passed 1 GW for the first time in April before reaching the latest 1.3 GW peak.
Earlier in March 2026, Solar Ireland said solar generation in Ireland exceeded 1 GW for the first time on March 6, meeting nearly 20% of electricity demand at midday as the country surpassed 8 GW of cumulative installed renewable energy capacity (see Ireland Hits 8 GW Renewables Milestone; Solar Now 3rd Largest Source).
The growth is also visible at the household level. More than 200,000 homes in Ireland have installed solar panels, while more than 120,000 homes have received solar PV grants since the support program began.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) received more than 31,000 Solar PV applications through July 2026, up 76% from the same period in 2025. Solar has also expanded into schools, with free solar panels provided to 2,000 schools across the country. Excess electricity from eligible installations can be sold to the grid through microgeneration arrangements.
Solar Ireland CEO, Ronan Power noted that Ireland’s first utility-scale solar farm was connected to the grid in 2022. “Three gigawatts is a big moment for Irish solar,” Power said, adding that the speed of deployment was particularly significant. The industry group said the next phase should focus on increasing rooftop solar and battery storage, while continuing investment in the electricity system.
The association is also calling for measures in Budget 2027 to support these areas. Power said storage would become more important as solar generation increases, allowing electricity produced during the middle of the day to be used later.
The government said solar deployment has been supported through schemes including the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme, Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme and Microgeneration Support Scheme. It plans to continue with the Solar PV grant through 2030.
