Ireland: Provisional data from EirGrid, operator of Ireland’s electricity grid, shows that renewable sources supplied 44 % of all electricity in December, continuing a strong trend in clean energy generation.
Wind farms were the largest contributor, providing 39 % of electricity, equivalent to 1243 GWh, up from 1067 GWh in November. Gas generation accounted for 38 %, while 17 % of electricity was imported via interconnectors. Total electricity demand for December reached 3234 GWh, higher than November’s 3088 GWh.
EirGrid also observed shifting demand patterns over the festive season. Normally, electricity use peaks between 5 pm and 6 pm on winter evenings as households switch on heating and appliances. On Christmas Day, however, peak demand moved to around 2.15 pm as ovens and other equipment were used for cooking, while overall demand fell due to closed shops, schools, and offices. On New Year’s Eve, peak demand returned to 5.15 pm, consistent with typical winter evenings.
Battery storage also set a new record, with discharge reaching 396 MW on 15 December, surpassing November’s record of 362 MW. This highlights the growing role of storage in balancing renewable output and meeting peak demand.
Diarmaid Gillespie, Director of System Operations at EirGrid, commented: “December was another strong month for renewable energy, with wind generation making a significant contribution to the national fuel mix.”
The provisional data is based on 15-minute SCADA readings and covers the Ireland-only system. The “Renewables” category includes wind, solar, hydro, and biomass but excludes some small-scale non-centrally monitored generation.
Source: EirGrid
