In a landmark achievement, wind farms in Ireland reached unprecedented levels of power generation last month, with activity poised to escalate further with the anticipated introduction of long-awaited planning legislation later this year.
According to figures released by industry body Wind Energy Ireland, Irish wind farms generated 1,541 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of power in March. This milestone surpassed the previous record of 1,392 GWh set four years ago in the same month.
In March, wind energy contributed 43% of Ireland’s electricity, marking a substantial portion of the nation’s energy mix. Additionally, the average wholesale price of electricity in March plummeted to €88.67, down by 40% from €145.25 compared to the same period a year earlier.
Justin Moran, Director of External Affairs at Wind Energy Ireland, emphasized the importance of expediting wind farm construction to drive down electricity costs and provide vital support to consumers grappling with financial strain.
The organization expressed optimism regarding the imminent introduction of the Planning and Development Bill, which is expected to streamline the Irish planning system and facilitate the expeditious examination of planning applications. Planning bottlenecks have significantly hindered wind farm development in recent years, impeding growth in the renewable energy sector.
Kerry emerged as a leader in wind-generated power last month, followed closely by Cork and Tipperary. Collectively, these top three counties produced enough electricity to fulfill nearly one-third of Ireland’s total electricity demand.
Mr. Moran highlighted the pivotal role of Irish wind farms, particularly those in Kerry, in reducing the nation’s carbon emissions by over 4 million tonnes annually. Furthermore, he underscored the significant socioeconomic benefits, including job creation and community funding, accruing to rural areas through wind energy initiatives.