According to the latest figures released by Wind Energy Ireland, wind farms in Ireland contributed to 35% of the country's electricity supply during the initial five months of 2024. Despite a slight increase in electricity demand for May 2024 compared to the same period last year, wind energy continued to play a significant role, meeting 21% of the month's electricity demand.
The report revealed a noteworthy shift in the hierarchy of wind energy production at the county level, with Cork surpassing Kerry to become the leading county in wind energy generation for May, producing 76GWh of energy. Kerry followed closely with 68GWh, while Galway, Tipperary, and Tyrone contributed 50GWh, 45GWh, and 39GWh respectively.
Justin Moran, Director of External Affairs at Wind Energy Ireland, commented on the collective impact of renewable energy sources, stating, “While the amount of electricity generated by wind farms last month was lower than previous months, the good news is that renewable sources combined, such as wind and solar power, provided nearly 30% of Ireland's electricity in May.”
Moran further emphasized the broader benefits of renewable energy, stating, “Every time a wind turbine or solar panel is generating electricity, it is reducing our reliance on imported fossil fuels, helping to push down wholesale electricity prices and increasing our supply of clean energy to power our homes and local communities.”
In conjunction with the release of the monthly report, Wind Energy Ireland launched its ‘Get Out in the Wind' campaign, inviting the public to explore and appreciate Irish wind farms throughout June. Moran highlighted the campaign's objectives, stating, “We should be proud that our wind farms have provided more than a third of our electricity so far this year… Irish wind farms, and last month particularly those in Cork, are playing an enormous part in reducing Ireland's carbon emissions by over four million tonnes a year and creating significant opportunities in job creation and funding for rural communities.”
The report also shed light on the economic implications of renewable energy, indicating that days with higher wind power correlated with decreased average wholesale electricity prices, while reliance on fossil fuels led to higher costs.
