Ireland’s peak electricity demand surpassed 6,000 megawatts for the first time in January 2025, reaching 6,024 MW, The Journal reported.
Population growth and the electrification of society drive this rising energy consumption.
“Since EirGrid was founded in 2001, the work of the National Control Centre has evolved significantly,” Michael Kelly, Chief Operations Officer at EirGrid, told The Journal. “Back then, there was very little wind generation on the system and there was no solar energy or battery storage.”
The Irish power system now handles electricity generated from high levels of variable renewables alongside new technologies and rising demand. EirGrid launched its Group Corporate Strategy 2026 as a five-year roadmap to address these changing grid conditions.
“This is no longer just about maintaining what exists,” Kelly said, according to The Journal. “The power system is changing at unprecedented speed due to rising demand, evolving electricity markets, cleaner generation and more volatile weather patterns.”
Grid data shows that renewable generation met roughly half of electricity demand during February, March, and April. Wind energy and solar installations have established multiple new output milestones over recent months.
Ireland set a new wind generation record of 3,898 MW on February 14, 2026, according to EirGrid data. Grid-scale solar achieved a peak of 1 GW (1021 MW) set on Monday 20 April at 12.19pm.
These figures contrast with figures from 2020, when the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland reported that electricity generation in Ireland was 29,588 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity. This gave a demand share of 40.2 per cent for renewable electricity, with wind energy providing 36.3 per cent, helping Ireland meet its 40 per cent renewable electricity target that year, as noted by Wind Energy Ireland.
Dr David Connolly, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland, stated that wind energy has transformed the system over the past decade by cutting carbon emissions and reducing fossil fuel dependency.
“It is also to the credit of Minister Eamon Ryan that the supports he put in place for renewable electricity when he was last in this department are what enabled us to develop the 4,200 MW of onshore wind energy which delivered this target,” he said.
EirGrid’s new strategy aims to raise the grid’s variable renewable integration capacity from its current 75 percent limit up to 95 percent.
“Under the Keeping Ireland Powered pillar, our priorities are clear – operating and enhancing the power system while optimising for low carbon generation,” Kelly said.