Renewable energy accounted for 48% of Ireland’s electricity supply in October, up from 43% in September and 45% in October 2025, according to provisional figures released by EirGrid.
Wind energy made the largest contribution, accounting for 40% of electricity used during the month. Total wind generation reached 1,237 gigawatt hours (GWh), compared with 1,015GWh in September.
Grid-scale solar accounted for approximately 4% of the electricity fuel mix, while natural gas generation contributed 38%. A further 13% of electricity was imported through interconnectors.
Overall electricity demand increased to 3,101GWh in October, up from 2,857GWh the previous month, representing an increase of approximately 8.5%.
Ireland’s electricity system can currently accommodate up to 75% renewable electricity generation at any one time, with plans to increase this limit to 95%.
Winter outlook
The latest figures come as EirGrid published its annual winter outlook report, covering the period from 1 November 2026 to 4 April 2027.
The report forecasts adequate electricity generation capacity for the coming winter and indicates that the risk of system alerts due to insufficient generation has reduced compared with recent years.
Commenting on the October figures, director of system operations at EirGrid Diarmaid Gillespie said the contribution from renewable sources was a positive development.
“Renewables supplied almost half of our electricity in October, with wind making a significant contribution. This is a notable amount and another positive indicator of the progress that we are making towards a more sustainable electricity grid,” he said.
Mr Gillespie also pointed to the increase in electricity demand as the country moves into the colder months.
“As we would expect at this time of year, we also saw an increase in demand for electricity as we head into the colder months and darker evenings."
He said the winter outlook "shows that the risk of insufficient generation being available to meet demand is now notably lower than it has been in recent years”.
He said EirGrid remains focused on maintaining a reliable electricity supply, while preparing the network for increasing demand and higher levels of renewable generation.
“Keeping Ireland powered is a key pillar in EirGrid’s strategy. As demand for electricity continues to grow and generation sources are increasingly from renewable sources, we remain focused on both operating the grid of today and preparing for the grid of tomorrow.”
