Renewables provided a third of electricity in September: EirGrid

Electricity from renewable sources provided for a third of total demand in September, according to provisional data from grid operator EirGrid.

The majority of renewable electricity generated last month came from wind farms, which accounted for just under 29% of all electricity used in Ireland. Total generation from wind energy amounted to 776 GWh (Gigawatt hours) over the month, marking the second-highest September figure on record.

Overall, renewables provided 33.5% of electricity in September.

Some 72 GWh of electricity came from grid-scale solar last month, roughly on par with May’s figure following successive strong months for solar generation in July and August over the summer. Grid-scale solar accounted for 2.7% of electricity in September.

Overall, electricity system demand stood at 2,683 GWh for September.

Gas generation accounted for 44% of all electricity used in September, with just under 16% being imported via interconnection, 5.5% coming from coal, and the remaining 2% from other sources.

EirGrid is responsible for leading Ireland’s transition to a low carbon future so that 80% of electricity can come from renewables by 2030, as set out in Government targets.

Currently, the electricity grid can accommodate up to 75% of electricity from renewable sources at any one time. This is known as the system non-synchronous penetration (SNSP) limit. EirGrid is aiming to further increase the SNSP limit.

Diarmaid Gillespie, Director of System Operations at EirGrid, said: “While solar generation was down from record highs during the summer, the September total was still higher than for any month last year, which signals the progress being made in connecting greater amounts of renewable energy to the national grid. Wind energy represented the vast majority of renewable generation last month, which demonstrates the continued centrality of this source of electricity for the power system.”