ONE THIRD OF THE ELECTRICITY IN IRELAND WAS POWERED BY WIND ENERGY IN 2024
Wind farms are essential in the fight against climate change and the push for a greener future. While many countries are embracing this sustainable technology, Ireland is leading the charge, with its wind farms generating 32% of the nation’s electricity.
This milestone was announced on January 9, 2025, in Wind Energy Ireland’s annual report, revealing that Ireland has surpassed 5,000 MW of onshore wind energy for the first time. This means that the country is over halfway to its Climate Action Plan target of 9,000 MW by 2030. Noel Cunniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland, says, “The more wind we can get on the electricity grid, the less we rely on imported gas and the more we can cut our carbon emissions and keep your money at home.”
Despite providing almost one-third of Ireland's electricity last year, wind farms saw a 3% decrease from 2023. Grid constraints forcing wind farms to close are the primary cause of the decline. The nation was forced to depend more on expensive imported fossil fuels as a result, which raised carbon emissions and electricity costs. Thankfully, Wind Energy Ireland will be able to make investments in enhancing the current grid infrastructure thanks to a new budget plan for 2025.
"It is crucial to strengthen the electrical grid to handle growing amounts of renewable energy," Cunniffe says. "It is also essential to expand our energy storage infrastructure to store excess renewable energy for later use."
According to the report, Ireland had the second-highest December on record in 2024, with 41% of its electricity coming from wind power. This development helps Ireland meet its goals for renewable energy. "Irish people want the clean energy that wind farms provide, and by growing our renewable energy sector, we can build an Ireland that is energy independent, delivering warm homes, cleaner air, and one that meets the needs of our growing economy," Cunniffe said, underscoring the public's strong support for clean energy.