Electricity Demand Falls in April Following Winter Peaks

Electricity demand in April dropped to the lowest level since September following a winter period which saw new demand peaks recorded, provisional data from grid operator EirGrid shows.

Overall electricity system demand stood at 2,792 GWh (Gigawatt Hours) for April – one of the only months since September where demand fell below the 3,000 GWh mark, alongside February which is a shorter month.

For comparison, demand in November, another 30-day month, stood at 3,010 GWh. As forecast in EirGrid’s annual Winter Outlook report, electricity demand was strong across this period, with peak demand passing the 6,000 MW (Megawatt) mark for the first time on 8 January during a particularly cold period.

Megawatt (MW) values provide snapshots of electricity demand at a particular moment in time, whereas Gigawatt Hours (GWh) reflects electricity use over a longer period.

Demand in April

Wind power met 27% of electricity demand in April, while solar power provided for 4% of electricity used across the country.

Gas was again the single biggest source of electricity generation for the month at 41.5%, and electricity imported via interconnection met 16.5% of demand. Alongside renewables, gas-powered generation and interconnection are important contributors towards meeting system demand, particularly at times of low renewable availability.

Diarmaid Gillespie, Director of System Operations at EirGrid, said: “We’re seeing the demand profile for electricity change somewhat as the warmer weather and longer days reduces the need for heating and lighting, with electricity demand in April dropping back down below the 3,000 Gigawatt Hour mark following the expected winter peaks in previous months. As we come towards summer we’ll continue to rely on a mix of generation sources to maintain a stable supply of power on the electricity grid.”