Joe Neville (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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96. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the current and projected contribution of solar farms to the national grid; the impact this is having on the grid's stability in the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49120/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The total installed capacity of solar generation connected to the grid currently stands at over 1.7 Gigawatts (GW) with a new record for peak solar generation set in July. This represents a very significant progress given that the first utility-scale solar project in Ireland was connected to the grid in 2022.

Government policy is focused on maintaining this momentum and delivering on our ambitious target of 8 GW of solar capacity. Growth has been strong in the recent years and solar is already making a meaningful contribution to electricity demand, playing a central role in diversifying Ireland’s renewable mix.

The Programme for Government sets out the commitment of this Government to achieving 80% of Ireland’s electricity generation from renewable sources in the near term. To do so will require a varied portfolio of renewable assets including solar and wind, as well as storage and conventional generation to facilitate this transition.

The Programme for Government recognises that to enable such a transformation of our energy system will also require a range of supporting measures. This will involve the development of a balanced portfolio of technologies, including storage and flexibility services, to complement other measures such as demand-side response, network development and interconnection to ensure a safe and secure electricity system with increased levels of renewables.

System Operator grid development plans are based upon delivering a safe and secure system with 80% renewable generation. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is responsible for the regulation of the electricity system operators. Expenditure by EirGrid and ESB Networks is agreed with the CRU in five year cycles, referred to as Price Reviews. Price Review 6 will facilitate delivering upon this ambition from a grid perspective.