Minister O'Brien highlights Ireland's significant renewable electricity progress
- Foilsithe:
- An t-eolas is déanaí:
- 2025 was a big year for renewables in Ireland; in Europe renewables surpassed fossil fuels for the first time
- Minister Dooley tells Renewable Energy Summit that Ireland's offshore energy potential can enhance Europe's energy security
- Department launches 'Our Energy. Our Future.' campaign to highlight benefits of renewables to households and businesses
Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O'Brien and Minister of State with responsibility for Fisheries and the Marine Timmy Dooley have today highlighted Ireland's significant progress in renewable energy.
Ireland has made huge progress in transforming our electricity system as we move towards our target of meeting 80% of electricity demand with renewables in the near term. Currently, we have nearly 8GW of renewable electricity generation capacity installed across the country, with circa 5GW of onshore wind generation and over 2.2GW of solar PV installed, with hydro, biomass, and other small sources also contributing.
This comes as renewables overtook fossil fuel power generation in Europe for the first time in 2025, at some 30% of generation compared to 29% for fossil fuels. Ireland’s signing of the Hamburg Declaration earlier this month commits to a strong pipeline of offshore wind in the North Seas, with 100GW to be delivered in the coming years and 300GW by 2050.
Key progress in 2025 includes:
- A successful result in the Tonn Nua offshore wind auction, with Helvic Head Offshore Wind DAC offering €98 per megawatt hour, significantly below the average wholesale electricity price in Ireland in 2025
- A fifth successful auction under the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS), also coming in at €98 per megawatt hour and securing enough clean power for over 350,000 homes, with up to €45 million in community benefit contributions to be realised over the life of the scheme
- The opening of the Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS) export tariff for applications in January 2025, offering communities, farmers, small businesses, and others an opportunity to generate income through solar and wind projects of up to 6MW
- Rapid growth of our solar energy sector, reaching over 2.2GW installed, making it the third highest share of electricity generation for the country.
- Establishment by Taoiseach Micheál Martin of the Offshore Wind Energy Clearing House to accelerate delivery of offshore wind
- Publication of the National Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP) Proposal for offshore renewable energy
- An investment of €3.5 billion in Ireland's electricity infrastructure across 2026-2030, as part of the revised National Development Plan
- Publication of the general scheme for Private Wires – to unlock private sector investment in renewables infrastructure
- Further enabling the emerging biomethane market via the Renewable Heat Obligation scheme
Commenting on our renewables progress, Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O'Brien said:
"Ireland has made huge progress in our journey to renewable energy. Wind power supplied approximately one third of national electricity demand in 2024, with renewables accounting for around 40-41% of total electricity generation. Our ambition is clear. Renewable electricity is a critically important part of this government's commitment to competitiveness, security, decarbonisation and quality of life.
"We are already world leaders for installed wind capacity per capita and for the integration of variable renewable electricity onto the grid. The deployment and connection of wind and solar energy generation at pace and at scale and the development of our electricity grid will benefit communities, households and businesses and free us from volatile fossil fuel prices. In uncertain times, electrifying Ireland with homegrown renewable energy is the best possible pathway to a sustainable and resilient future."
Speaking at the Energy Ireland Renewable Energy Summit in Croke Park today, Minister of State for Fisheries and the Marine Timmy Dooley said:
"As Ireland takes the helm of the EU Presidency in the second half of this year, we are committed to supporting the delivery of renewable energy at pace and scale across Europe, as well as Ireland, to underpin our common security and provide the bedrock of our energy needs. As a small, windy island at the edge of Europe, the offshore energy potential of Ireland is huge.
“Increasing our cross-border electricity interconnection will enhance European energy security, increase our economic competitiveness and critically reduce consumer prices. As we look towards the future, it is clear we have already made substantial progress. But momentum must continue as we all work towards our renewable-led energy system."
Cross-government taskforces
To keep on track and to ensure that we increase our supply of homegrown renewable energy to meet growing demand, we need to continue to strengthen our electricity network, invest in storage and align plans and infrastructure development with our indigenous renewable energy supply.
Through two cross-government taskforces, the Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce (ARET) for onshore renewables and the Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce (OWDT), the government continues to develop effective policies designed to deliver an accelerated and increased level of renewable generation capacity and related infrastructure, including strengthening the electricity grid and increasing electricity storage.
'Our Energy. Our Future.' campaign
Meanwhile, a new national communications campaign launched today by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment highlights the benefits of renewable energy, placing people and communities at its centre and emphasising early engagement, careful planning and shared benefits. The campaign – 'Our Energy. Our Future.' – demonstrates how home-grown renewable electricity is already creating jobs, warming homes, powering businesses and supporting community projects across Ireland.
As Ireland looks to enhance our competitiveness, resilience and security, the message is clear: renewable electricity is not just our energy – it is our future.
ENDS