Wind energy provided 35% of Ireland's electricity in October and accounted for 32% of the country's electricity generation in the first 10 months of 2024, according to Wind Energy Ireland.
Despite this significant contribution, the industry is grappling with an increasing issue of wasted energy.
In 2023, wind generation in Ireland hit a record 13,725 GWh, but production is expected to decline in 2024, largely due to grid constraints that have led to substantial losses of wind energy.
Justin Moran, Director of External Affairs at Wind Energy Ireland, stated that 14% of wind energy produced in the first nine months of the year was lost because of challenges with the transmission network.
Moran emphasized that the situation could make 2024 the worst year on record for wasted wind energy. To address this, Wind Energy Ireland is calling for stronger support for EirGrid's plans to reinforce the transmission system. He noted that it was encouraging to see political parties in Ireland recognizing this issue in their election manifestos as the country heads into a general election.
In October, solar power and other renewables contributed 4% of Ireland's electricity generation.
