Grid delivery must accelerate to keep pace with record generation

Too much renewable energy is being wasted because grid and system development is not keeping pace with record levels of generation, Solar Ireland has warned. Utility-scale solar contributed a record 37.06% of fuel demand across the country on Monday afternoon, just 2% off the level of imported gas being used in the 24-hour period up to Sunday afternoon. The total amount of renewable generation from wind and solar exceeded 46%, according to EirGrid, with sunny conditions expected for much of the week ahead. “This is a fantastic week for solar in Ireland and shows just how quickly the sector is growing and contributing to our energy system," said Ronan Power, CEO of Solar Ireland. "But it also highlights an increasingly important challenge. As generation levels continue to rise, parts of the system are struggling to absorb all the clean, renewable energy available, leading to increasing dispatch down and curtailment. "This is no longer just a grid issue. It is increasingly a system optimisation challenge involving network delivery, flexibility, storage and operational solutions.” Power said Ireland now needs to move quickly from planning to implementation: “The investment commitment is there and we welcome that. The priority now is accelerating delivery and ensuring grid infrastructure, system services and operational measures keep pace with renewable deployment. "Every unit of renewable electricity we can use helps reduce reliance on imported fuels, improves energy security and supports consumers at a time when energy costs remain a concern for many households and businesses. Solar contributed to more than a third of Ireland's fuel demand at 2:30pm on Monday. “Ireland is breaking solar records. We now need the system to be ready to maximise their benefit.” Solar Ireland is calling for accelerated delivery across grid infrastructure, flexibility measures and operational actions to ensure Ireland can fully capture periods of strong renewable generation such as the current warm spell. Photo: Ronan Power. (Pic: File)

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