Renewable Energy Generation
Dail Éireann — 2026-04-23
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Neale Richmond (FG), Dublin Rathdown

I thank Deputy Toole for her forensic Topical Issue. I appreciate the detail and I will endeavour to respond as best I can on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O’Brien. Ireland’s energy security has moved from being a long-term ambition to becoming one of the most pressing challenges facing our country. I think back to the formation of the Common Agricultural Policy which was based on the basic need that Europe did not starve again. We are now in a situation where the basic need is that we cannot allow the lights to go out again in Europe because recent geopolitical tensions and volatility in global energy markets have proven that energy security is not just an environmental issue but it is essential for delivering long-term energy security and price stability for Irish households and businesses. It is now more important than ever that we reduce Ireland’s exposure to imported fossil fuel price shocks.
The programme for Government has reaffirmed Ireland’s targets of 80% of electricity demand to be met by renewables in the near term with plans to move to net zero by 2050. We are fortunate here in Ireland to have extraordinary renewable energy resources. Our wind is among the strongest in Europe. Our solar sector is growing at speed, particularly in County Meath but, indeed, beyond, and it is already the third highest share of electricity generation for the country.
Ireland currently has over 8 GW of renewable electricity generation capacity connected to the network, a remarkable achievement as it means we have added approximately 5 GW of new renewable energy generation capacity in just ten years, including doubling our wind capacity and establishing solar energy as a major pillar of our energy supply. In a few short years, solar has become a major component of our electricity supply. Solar is now the third-highest supplier of indigenously generated electricity, behind natural gas and wind, to the electricity grid. Solar is not only reducing electricity bills for households and businesses but it is also easing pressure on the grid by lowering peak demand and supporting a more resilient energy system. The accelerated deployment of both rooftop solar and solar farms is a critical part of meeting the Government’s commitment to deliver 80% of Ireland’s electricity demand from renewable energy sources in the near term, including 8 GW of solar energy alone.
The design of our renewable electricity support scheme auctions ensures that the new renewables capacity is delivered in as cost effective and competitive a manner as possible. Solar has featured strongly in each scheme auction to date delivering real benefits to Ireland’s electricity network and Irish electricity consumers. Indeed, at times of high electricity prices the two-way scheme design ensures consumers benefit directly from the claw back of any revenue in excess of scheme strike prices. For the 2025-2026 PSO levy year, it is expected that over €11 million will be returned to Irish electricity consumers via the PSO levy as a result of operational scheme projects. It is worth noting that all renewable electricity developments are subject to careful independent scrutiny at the planning application stage by the relevant planning authority when reaching a decision on an individual planning application.
Operational functions of the planning system, including the process of planning applications are, of course, a matter for the relevant planning authority. The points made by Deputy Toole are particularly relevant and I will be more than happy to bring them directly to the Minister, Deputy O’Brien.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-04-23/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-27T06:54:48+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-23