March sees almost 50% of electricity generated by renewables with new records for grid scale solar

New provisional data from EirGrid, the operator and developer of Ireland’s electricity grid, shows that 49% of electricity came from renewable sources in March.¹ 

This is similar to the previous month of February when 48% of energy was generated by renewables.

Contributing 40% of the overall fuel mix in March, wind energy made up a significant proportion of renewable energy. Total generation of wind amounted to 1,258 GWh (Gigawatt hours).

The overall electricity system demand stood at 3,142 GWh in March, compared to 3,027GWh in February.² 

While not summer yet, spring sunshine and a growth in solar power connected to Ireland’s grid (grid-scale solar farms) resulted in a number of solar records on the power system in March, and this trend is anticipated to continue over the coming months. 

On 21 March, a new peak for grid-scale solar was achieved contributing 983.46 MW to Ireland’s electricity mix.

This comes close to 1GW (1,000 MW), which is enough to power roughly 500,000 customers.

This follows a record of 979 MW hit on 19 March and 950 MW reached on 6 March.

These figures relate to grid-scale solar, from larger solar farms, and do not account for rooftop solar on homes and businesses, known as embedded solar.

With rooftop (embedded) solar accounted for, EirGrid has observed significant changes in electricity requirements from the National Control Centre. 

On sunny days, demand during the day for electricity from large electricity generators has declined, as many homes, businesses and farms are powering themselves with embedded solar.

When compared to the previous Thursday (12 March), demand in the early afternoon of Thursday 19 March was significantly less, with a difference of 974 MW. This can largely be explained by the amount of embedded solar available given the better weather on that day, compared to 12 March.  

EirGrid is observing days where demand is lower in the early afternoon than at night. Again, the amount of embedded solar can significantly account for this.

EirGrid’s National Control Centre carries out the complex task of balancing the supply of solar energy alongside conventional generation sources and other renewable resources such as wind power to ensure that demand can be met.

Charlie McGee, EirGrid’s System Operational Manager, said: "While solar power is currently a relatively small component of the overall fuel mix across a month, these record peaks demonstrate its ever-increasing importance as a source of renewable energy in Ireland as we work towards a more sustainable and renewable ready electricity grid.

“Looking in particular at the instantaneous power that grid-scale solar can provide, it can meet over 20% of demand at times.

"It’s also interesting to see how much of an impact rooftop solar is having on overall system demand. On brighter days less of Ireland's electricity needs are now served by large scale grid connected generation. This is helping to further reduce our reliance on non-renewable sources of electricity."

About the data

The data is based on 15-minute SCADA readings (MW). The data referenced above is Ireland-only.   

Data is provisional and unmetered data, based on real-time information.   

¹Average Fuel Mix is a representation of the System Generation fuel mix and net imports across the power system. The “Renewables” category includes wind, solar, hydro and biomass sources. It excludes some non-centrally monitored generation (such as small-scale combined heat and power and microgeneration).  

²System demand represents the electricity production required to meet national electricity consumption, including system losses, but net of generators' requirements.