Renewable Sources Power 41% of Ireland’s Electricity in November

A substantial portion of electricity in Ireland was generated from renewable sources last month, according to Eirgrid. The agency responsible for managing the electricity grid reported that approximately 41% of the country’s electricity came from renewable energy in November 2023. This represents a notable increase of 7% compared to the same month last year.

Wind energy was the dominant contributor, accounting for 35% of all electricity consumed, with total wind generation reaching 1,067 gigawatt hours (GWh). The overall electricity demand for Ireland in 2023 was 33,791 GWh. In November alone, electricity system demand stood at 3,088 GWh, an increase from 2,969 GWh recorded in October.

Gas generation comprised 42% of the electricity used in November, with 17% of this being imported through interconnections via underground pipelines from outside Ireland. Eirgrid noted that electricity usage reached a new all-time peak on a Sunday last month, with demand hitting 5,144 megawatts (MW) on November 30. This surpassed the previous peak demand recorded on a Sunday in January 2023.

Diarmaid Gillespie, the Director of System Operations at Eirgrid, explained the increase in demand. “As we would expect in November, with the clocks having changed, evenings getting shorter and the weather colder, we continued to see an increase in demand on the system last month,” he stated.

The transmission system, which includes the network of power lines that deliver electricity from power plants to homes, also set a new record for demand. On November 25, battery storage usage peaked at 362 MW during a period of high demand and low renewable generation from wind. Gillespie emphasized the growing importance of battery systems in managing peak demand, saying, “We saw the highest demand for a Sunday since January, with batteries playing an ever-increasing role in meeting peak demand on the power system.”

To support the rise in battery usage, Eirgrid collaborated with Northern Ireland’s grid operator Soni to update its Energy Storage Power Stations (ESPS). This enhancement aims to improve integration into the real-time electricity market.

The data released by Eirgrid pertains solely to Ireland and is based on real-time information, underscoring the significant strides the country is making towards a more sustainable energy future. As renewable sources continue to gain traction, the reliance on gas generation is expected to evolve, shaping the landscape of Ireland’s energy sector.