Solar Ireland has warned that growing volumes of clean electricity risk being wasted unless grid and system development accelerates to match record levels of renewable generation.

The industry group said too much renewable energy is currently being curtailed because infrastructure and system flexibility are not keeping pace with rapid growth in solar output. The warning comes as a sunny period once again pushes Ireland’s energy system to new generation highs.

At 2:30pm on 25 May, utility-scale solar reached a record 37.06% of fuel demand across the country, according to Green Collective data. This figure is just 2% below the level of imported gas used during the 24-hour period leading up to Sunday afternoon. According to EirGrid, total renewable generation from wind and solar exceeded 46%.

Ronan Power, CEO of Solar Ireland, said the latest figures demonstrate both the rapid expansion of the sector and the operational challenges that come with it.

“This is a fantastic week for solar in Ireland and shows just how quickly the sector is growing and contributing to our energy system. But it also highlights an increasingly important challenge. As generation levels continue to rise, parts of the system are struggling to absorb all the clean, renewable energy available, leading to increasing dispatch down and curtailment. This is no longer just a grid issue. It is increasingly a system optimisation challenge involving network delivery, flexibility, storage and operational solutions.”

Power said Ireland now needs to move quickly from planning to implementation.

“The investment commitment is there and we welcome that. The priority now is accelerating delivery and ensuring grid infrastructure, system services and operational measures keep pace with renewable deployment. Every unit of renewable electricity we can use helps reduce reliance on imported fuels, improves energy security and supports consumers at a time when energy costs remain a concern for many households and businesses. Ireland is breaking solar records. We now need the system to be ready to maximise their benefit.”

Solar Ireland is calling for accelerated delivery across grid infrastructure, flexibility measures and operational actions to ensure Ireland can fully capture periods of strong renewable generation such as the current warm spell.