How Ireland is shifting towards clean, reliable power

What do electric vehicles, wind farms, and your kettle have in common? They all depend on a reliable electricity grid, and as Ireland ramps up its efforts to go green, that grid needs a major upgrade.

Under the Government’s Climate Action Plan, 80pc of Ireland’s electricity must come from renewable sources.

To make that happen, there is a need to reinforce, modernise, and future-proof the grid to make it fit for a new era of clean energy, all while keeping your lights on and your devices charged.

“We have a clear task to reach our climate ambitions, while developing and strengthening the grid to support growing demand,” says Siobhán O’Shea, Chief Infrastructure Officer Onshore (Interim).

“In the face of increasing electricity demand, reinforcements and upgrades to the grid are vital to allow us to continue to provide a safe and reliable energy supply to homes, schools and businesses across the country.”

Connecting renewable energy

EirGrid is the organisation that works behind the scenes to develop, manage, and operate the national electricity transmission system. And right now, it’s leading the biggest transformation of that system in Irish history.

Unlike electricity generators or wind farm developers, its job is to connect these sources of renewable energy to the national grid. And with rising energy demands, from more heat pumps and electric cars to housing developments, its role has never been more important.

O’Shea says, “Across EirGrid, teams are working to ensure the delivery of critical infrastructure projects across the country, both onshore and offshore.”

One major project leading the way is the Celtic Interconnector, which will link the Irish and French electricity grids via a subsea cable. This infrastructure will allow for the import and export of electricity between the two countries, supporting energy security and price stability while lowering emissions.

The Celtic Interconnector will send enough electricity to power around 450,000 homes, travelling 575km, most of it under the sea! It’s like building an energy bridge between Ireland and France, helping both countries share clean electricity and protect the environment.

Powering up

Closer to home, Powering Up Dublin is modernising the capital’s grid to meet growing demand and enable the rollout of low-carbon technologies across homes and businesses.

This is a major power upgrade for the city, replacing ageing infrastructure with over 50km of high-voltage underground cables and new substations.

It’s about future-proofing Dublin’s electricity supply to support electric vehicles, greener heating, and a cleaner energy future, all while keeping the city switched on and moving forward.

Meanwhile, Powering Up Offshore - South Coast is a landmark project that will connect up to 900 megawatts of offshore wind energy to the grid.

As Ireland’s first state-led offshore electricity connection, it’s making waves in more ways than one. It is linking offshore wind farms to the national grid through a network of subsea cables and new substations on land.

It’s an incredibly important step in turning offshore winds off the south coast into clean, reliable power, a major boost in the move toward a cleaner energy future.

“Colleagues across EirGrid are currently progressing plans for offshore renewable energy infrastructure off the south coast, which will deliver capacity to bring an additional 900 megawatts of clean, renewable electricity onto the national grid - enough to power nearly a million homes,” says O’Shea.

“This is a significant step towards delivering a cleaner energy system.

“This project will also have significant direct and indirect benefits to the local coastal communities and Ireland more widely, through the growth of an offshore economy.”

Rising demand

With electricity demand expected to rise by 45pc between now and 2034, driven by electric transport, heat pumps, and population growth, strengthening the grid isn’t just about meeting climate targets; it’s about making sure Ireland is ready for the future.

And EirGrid’s approach is about more than just cables and substations. The organisation is committed to community engagement, ensuring that local voices are heard and benefits are shared wherever projects are rolled out.

Whether it’s bringing energy to a remote area or reinforcing city networks, EirGrid is focused on working with communities.

This work is paving the way for Ireland to become a leader in renewable energy and grid innovation, a future where clean electricity powers homes, industries, and transport with less reliance on imported fossil fuels.

In doing so, it is helping to create jobs, support economic growth, and build a more secure and sustainable energy system.

O’Shea adds, “We at EirGrid look forward to harnessing innovative solutions to ensure a resilient energy system for future generations.”

The switch to clean energy doesn’t happen overnight, but thanks to EirGrid, Ireland is well on its way to sustainable success.

To learn more about how EirGrid is transforming the grid, visit eirgrid.ie