Ireland reached a new milestone in renewable energy last month, with 40% of the country’s electricity coming from green sources, according to provisional data from grid operator EirGrid. This significant achievement reflects a notable increase in renewable energy production. 

Wind farms led the charge, generating approximately 898 GWh (Gigawatt hours) of electricity in August, the highest amount ever recorded for the month. This contributed 34% of the country’s total electricity consumption, surpassing the previous August record of 867 GWh set last year. 

Additionally, grid-scale solar power surpassed the 100 GWh mark for the second consecutive month, producing 103 GWh of electricity. This output accounted for 3.9% of the total electricity demand in August, though it fell slightly short of the all-time record set in July. 

Overall, the total electricity system demand for August was 2,639 GWh (not including rooftop  solar), with renewables providing a substantial 40% of this demand. This milestone underscores Ireland’s continued progress in expanding its renewable energy capacity and reducing its carbon footprint. It also aligns with the government's ambitious targets for a low-carbon future, aiming for 80% of electricity to come from renewable sources by 2030. 

Gas generation accounted for 37% of all electricity used in August (977 GWh), with 18.6% being imported via interconnection (492 GWh), 3% coming from coal (78 GWh), and the remaining 1% from other sources. 

Diarmaid Gillespie, Director of System Operations at EirGrid, said: “While we had a bit more wind power on the system compared to August 2023, the amount of solar energy generated for the grid almost doubled from the same month last year, which shows the rate of progress we’re seeing in integrating different types of renewables onto the electricity grid.”