Solar energy reached a record high in the national grid in May as Ireland experienced its warmest and sunniest spring on record.
Data from Ireland
Preliminary data from national grid operator EirGrid shows that in May, solar energy generated by grid-connected solar panels amounted to 173,163 MWh, accounting for 6.5% of the total electricity generated during the month. By comparison, in May 2023, 2.7% of all electricity was generated from solar energy, amounting to 71,731 MWh.
Several new peak values of solar activity were also recorded across the grid in a one-minute interval, reaching 755 MW at one point on May 17, exceeding the record of 752 MW set two days earlier.
Overall, electricity demand in May was 2.7 GWh, similar to last year’s figure. Of the 32.5% of electricity generated last month from renewable sources, the largest share came from wind energy (22.5%), 6.5% from solar energy, and the remainder from other sources, including hydropower and biomass.
Gas generation accounted for 39% of the electricity produced, 22.8% was imported through interconnections, and 4.6% was produced from coal. EirGrid reported that Ireland’s power system can currently accept up to 75% of electricity from renewable sources at any one time.
Data from around the world
Solar energy reached a 10% share of global electricity generation in April 2025 for the first time in history. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, China added 60 GW of solar energy, with rooftop panels accounting for 60% of this increase, or 36 GW. This is comparable to the total installed capacity of solar panels in Spain and France combined.
China accounts for almost half of the world’s installed solar power capacity, five times more than the United States, and its share is growing steadily, according to statistics compiled by the International Renewable Energy Agency. According to various sources, by the end of 2024, China’s installed solar power capacity reached 890 GW. The country added 277.17 GW of solar power capacity in one year, which is 27.79% more than in 2023 (216.88 GW).
Solar panels accounted for 81.5% of new electricity generation capacity added to the US power grid in 2024. Total installed solar power capacity reached 121 GW by the end of last year for utility-scale solar power plants, and total solar power capacity in the US (including distributed) was estimated at 172.5 GW at the end of 2023. (2024 data expected).
According to preliminary data, solar energy in the US grew by 50 GW, exceeding 220 GW. According to forecasts, China’s solar energy capacity will exceed 1 TW this year, while the United States is expected to reach 739 GW by 2035.
