Ireland Faces Growing Risk of Widespread Power Outages This Autumn, Warns ENTSO-E Report
Dublin: Ireland is at risk of experiencing major electricity shortages this autumn, potentially leaving up to one million homes without power, according to a stark new report by the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E). The warning follows mounting concerns over the country’s strained national grid and insufficient backup generation capacity.
The ENTSO-E Summer and Winter Outlook Report, which assesses electricity supply security across 36 European countries, places Ireland among the three most vulnerable nations—alongside Malta and Cyprus—requiring urgent monitoring and intervention. While no risk of blackouts was identified in continental Europe, the Nordic region, or the UK, Ireland’s situation was described as critical due to its failure to modernise and replace ageing power infrastructure.
Grid Under Strain
The report attributes the growing risk of power outages to Ireland’s over-reliance on outdated, dispatchable power plants, which are slow to respond to real-time demand. The country’s limited reserve generation capacity has long been flagged as a structural weakness in the grid.
Recent data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act revealed that up to three million ESB customers experienced repeated short-term power cuts in the past year, highlighting systemic instability. In addition, previous reports noted that over 50,000 homes and businesses have been experiencing weekly outages, underscoring the deteriorating reliability of the electricity network.
Peter Thorn, professor at Maynooth University and a member of the Climate Change Advisory Council, warned that the crisis underlines the urgent need for investment in renewable and flexible energy sources. “Without a significant shift toward sustainable and responsive energy systems, Ireland will continue to face seasonal electricity shortfalls,” he said.
Power Plant Closures Compound the Crisis
The situation is further aggravated by the temporary closure of four power plants for maintenance, resulting in a projected loss of one gigawatt of capacity from the national grid by September. ENTSO-E estimates that this shortfall could affect electricity supply to as many as 750,000 households during peak demand periods.
EirGrid, Ireland’s national grid operator, has acknowledged the challenges and stated that “planned disruptions” are sometimes necessary to manage demand and ensure overall grid stability. The agency said it is working on strategies to mitigate the risk of widespread blackouts, including demand-side management and supply balancing.
The looming power crisis has triggered political alarm. MEP and former minister Barry Cowen described the ENTSO-E findings as “deeply serious” and indicative of long-term policy failures. “This is not an unexpected emergency. It’s the result of ongoing neglect, poor planning, and repeated failure to act on credible warnings issued over the years in the Dáil, the European Parliament, and various committees,” Cowen said.
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