Is Ireland in the throes of a solar revolution?

Photograph: Daragh Mc Sweeney/Provision Ireland is in the throes of an unlikely solar revolution. Within a relatively short period, solar has become the country’s fastest-growing renewable power source. Almost 60,000 residential homes have solar panels on their rooftops – and 500 houses are being connected to the grid every week.

Do solar panels produce electricity in Ireland?

Wherever you live in Ireland, you can still generate a good amount of electricity from a typical solar PV system. A solar array in Ireland's sunniest, south-eastern counties typically performs about 9% better than the national average. In the far northwest, the same panels produce about 8% less than the national average.

Are solar panels a good investment in Ireland?

Solar panels in Ireland are a good investment and a typical solar PV system usually pays for itself in around 5-6 years . After that, it's free electricity all the way. The initial outlay for a solar PV system is roughly €7,000 to €10,000. Most of our customers generate more solar electricity than the average Irish household consumes each year.

Why is solar power so important in Ireland?

It coincides with the technology being continually enhanced, driven by innovation and increasing efficiency. This means even a dull Irish day can deliver significant quantities of solar power, while thousands of homes can feed excess electricity from their installations onto the grid and get paid for it.

What is a hybrid energy system in Ireland?

These systems combine the best of both worlds, using solar during the day and wind when it’s dark or stormy. Ireland’s unpredictable weather actually makes hybrid systems quite practical. You get a more stable energy supply across the seasons and less reliance on the grid.

How much solar power will Ireland have by 2025?

When we announced that we wanted to reach 5 gigawatts – ie 5,000MW – by 2025, people said we were mad The Irish Solar Energy Association (ISEA) has charted solar’s remarkable growth and impact in easing dependence on fossil fuels, and our precarious lack of energy security.