Installed Irish wind capacity has surpassed the 5 GW mark, with wind farms providing nearly a third of the island’s electricity in 2024, according to Wind Energy Ireland. The electricity generated by Irish wind farms last year totaled 13,258 GWh, exceeding one and a half times the total consumption of all residential customers.
Impact on Carbon Emissions
Noel Cunniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland, stated: “Our members can be proud of the role Irish wind farms played last year in supporting electricity consumers and reducing our carbon emissions.” He noted that Ireland now has just over 5,000 MW of onshore wind energy, over halfway to the Climate Action Plan target of 9,000 MW by 2030.
Reducing Reliance on Imported Gas
Cunniffe emphasized that increasing wind energy on the electricity grid reduces reliance on imported gas, thereby cutting carbon emissions and keeping money within the country. However, despite wind farms supplying nearly a third of Ireland’s electricity last year, the share of electricity from wind was down by 3% compared to 2023. This decline is largely attributed to wind farms being shut down due to an insufficiently strong electricity grid.
Challenges Ahead
“Last year was the worst on record for the amount of wind power lost,” Cunniffe added. “Every time a wind turbine is shut down because the grid can’t take the electricity, it means higher bills and more carbon emissions.”
He stressed the importance of strengthening the electricity grid to accommodate increasing volumes of renewable energy and building energy storage infrastructure to save excess renewable energy for future use. The funding announced in Budget 2025 is expected to help reinforce existing grid infrastructure.
Recent Performance Highlights
In December, wind energy provided 41% of Ireland’s electricity, marking the second-best December on record for wind energy production. Cork wind farms led the way last month, producing more energy than any other county, followed by Kerry, Galway, and, for the first time, Offaly, which saw a boost from the opening of several new wind farms.
