Solar power capacity in Ireland increases by 300%
Olivia Kelleher
Ireland's solar power capacity has increased by almost 300 per cent in three years, according to figures published in a report by Solar Ireland.
The Scale of Solar report indicates that Ireland had a total connected solar capacity which reached 2.7 GW by the end of May 2026, an increase of almost 300 per cent since 2023.
The report shows that in the 12 months to the end of May solar generated more than 1.17 terawatt-hours of electricity across Ireland.
The equivalent of 460,000 homes were powered by Ireland’s total connected solar capacity whilst total connected solar capacity increased by nearly 1 GW in a single year. During May solar achieved 37.1 per cent peak instantaneous contribution to electricity.
When it comes to rooftop solar adoption, Clare is leading the way on a county-by-county basis, with 51 rooftop solar systems per 1,000 people.
190,000 plus homes and businesses are now generating their own electricity.
Meath remains the leader with Wexford in second place and Cork in third. Ireland’s total connected solar capacity is now predicted to exceed 3.3 GW by year-end.
Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien launched the report at Government Buildings.
He said that the findings highlight both the progress achieved and the opportunities ahead.
“The growth of solar energy in Ireland is one of the clearest examples of how our energy transition is moving from ambition to delivery.
"In just 12 months, Ireland added 1 GW of solar capacity, helping to strengthen Ireland's energy resilience, reduce emissions and increase the share of domestically generated renewable electricity on our system.
"As electricity demand continues to grow, driven by electrification across homes, transport and industry, investment in renewable energy infrastructure will be essential.
"Solar is already making an increasingly important contribution to Ireland's electricity system and will continue to play a key role in supporting energy resilience, economic competitiveness and a sustainable energy future.”
CEO of Solar Ireland Ronan Power says this year’s figures represent a true milestone.
“Ireland’s solar story is no longer defined solely by ambition. It is increasingly defined by delivery.
In the past year alone, Ireland added almost 1 GW of solar capacity, while solar generation and deployment records have continued to be broken across the country. Solar is now making a meaningful contribution to homes, farms, schools, businesses and communities nationwide.
Maintaining this momentum will require continued collaboration across industry, Government, regulators and system operators. Grid infrastructure, planning processes, workforce capacity, market design and public participation will all play a critical role in determining how quickly Ireland can continue scaling solar generation.
The progress achieved to date demonstrates what is possible when policy, investment and delivery align. The opportunity now is to build on that foundation and ensure solar continues to play a growing role in Ireland's energy future. ”
Nicholas Tarrant, Managing Director, ESB Networks, paid tribute to the collective effort achieving so much in the solar industry.
“The continued rapid growth in both utility-scale solar projects and rooftop solar installations over recent years is a powerful reflection of the contribution individuals, communities and renewable project developers are making to supporting our climate goals.”
The electricity network now supports 2.7 GW of solar generation, from large utility-scale developments to domestic rooftop systems.
Each year, approximately 50,000 new solar installations are completed across homes, farms, businesses and communities throughout the country.
