Ireland reached a significant milestone in its energy transition as renewable sources generated half of the country’s electricity supply in 2025, according to new data published by the Central Statistics Office. The national electricity grid supply increased by 3.5% year-on-year, rising to 35,884 gigawatt hours (GWh) from 34,684 GWh recorded in 2024.
The figures released by the Central Statistics Office underscore Ireland’s progress toward its climate and energy targets, as the nation continues to shift away from fossil fuel-based electricity generation toward cleaner energy sources.
Key facts
- Ireland’s electricity grid supply reached 35,884 GWh in 2025, up 3.5% from 34,684 GWh in 2024
- Renewable energy sources accounted for 50% of total electricity generation
- The Central Statistics Office released the data on 24 August 2026
- Total grid supply increased by 1,200 GWh year-on-year
Ireland’s Renewable Energy Expansion
The achievement of renewable sources contributing half of Ireland’s electricity generation marks a crucial turning point in the country’s energy landscape. This milestone reflects years of investment in wind, solar, and other clean energy infrastructure across the Republic. The growth in overall grid supply simultaneously demonstrates rising electricity demand driven by economic expansion, data centre development, and increased electrification of transport and heating.
Ireland has committed to ambitious climate targets under both European Union directives and national climate legislation. The Climate Action Plan sets out a pathway to reduce emissions by 51% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Renewable electricity generation forms a cornerstone of this strategy, with offshore wind development expected to play an increasingly important role in the coming years.
Grid Infrastructure and Future Challenges
While the renewable energy milestone represents significant progress, Ireland faces ongoing challenges in managing an electricity system with growing proportions of variable renewable generation. Wind and solar power fluctuate based on weather conditions, requiring sophisticated grid management, energy storage solutions, and backup generation capacity to ensure reliable supply.
The 3.5% increase in total electricity demand also highlights the need for continued investment in grid infrastructure to accommodate both rising consumption and the connection of additional renewable generation capacity. Grid operator EirGrid has outlined extensive network reinforcement programmes to strengthen transmission infrastructure and enable the integration of further renewable energy projects, particularly offshore wind farms planned for development around Ireland’s coast.
The latest statistics provide evidence that Ireland is making measurable headway in decarbonising its electricity sector, even as total demand continues to climb. The balanced growth in supply and the renewable energy share indicates that new clean generation capacity is being deployed at a pace sufficient to both meet increasing demand and replace fossil fuel generation simultaneously.
Reporting based on original coverage by the original source.
