Wedoany.com Report-Jun 15, Ireland’s solar energy sector has achieved record-breaking generation levels in 2025, with notable peaks in March and May. In March, grid-scale solar reached a daily peak of over 750 MW. In May, renewables accounted for 32.5% of Ireland’s electricity, with solar contributing 173,163 MWh, or 6.5% of the month’s total, according to provisional data from EirGrid, the national transmission system operator. On May 17, solar hit a one-minute peak of 755 MW, surpassing the 752 MW record set on May 15.

Onshore wind continues to lead as Ireland’s primary renewable energy source. Meanwhile, Solar Ireland, the representative body for the solar industry, has praised the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) for simplifying the grid connection process. The CRU replaced the high-level technical assessment (HLTA) with a pre-application notification process, which Solar Ireland described as “more accessible, fair, and pragmatic.”

The new process, effective for the September 2025 batch of onshore renewable projects, requires applicants to submit a pre-application notification form between June 16 and June 30, 2025. This applies to both Renewable Energy Directive III (RED III) projects, such as renewable energy and co-located storage, and non-RED III projects, including conventional generation and non-co-located storage. A valid grid application must be submitted by September 30 to meet RED III timelines, along with a non-refundable deposit of €7,000 ($8,000) or 50% of the application fee, whichever is lower. Community-led projects qualify for a reduced €2,000 deposit.

Ronan Power, CEO of Solar Ireland, stated: “Enabling planning and grid consents to proceed in parallel is a practical step that will help bring more renewable projects forward with greater efficiency and speed. The new deposit model provides a fairer balance between encouraging readiness and enabling broad participation.”

The CRU is considering extending these measures beyond September 2025 but noted on June 6 that the HLTA could still benefit the process. The regulator acknowledged stakeholder calls for streamlined grid connections and the challenges faced by system operators in managing applications. For the March 2026 batch, the CRU plans to reinstate the HLTA requirement but will continue engaging with stakeholders to refine the connection framework.