Wind farms supplied 36% of Ireland’s electricity in October, contributing to a 41% share for all renewables, Wind Energy Ireland (WEI) said on Tuesday.
Total wind output reached about 1,229 GWh during the month, according to the industry group. Kerry recorded the highest county-level generation at 156 GWh, followed by Cork with 144 GWh, Galway with 84 GWh, Derry with 83 GWh and Tipperary with 80 GWh.
The average wholesale electricity price in October fell to €100.70 per megawatt-hour from €123.45/MWh a year earlier, WEI said. Prices dropped to €55.84/MWh on the windiest days and climbed to €137.98/MWh when fossil fuels dominated supply.
WEI Chief Executive Noel Cunniffe said Ireland’s natural resources are supporting both energy security and affordability. “We are fortunate in Ireland to have natural resources like wind that can generate more affordable, clean electricity to power our local communities,” he said. He added that renewables once again delivered over 40% of the country’s electricity, with wind supplying the majority.
Cunniffe said wind generation also helps reduce reliance on imported gas. “Rather than importing hundreds of millions of euros of gas, Irish wind farms ensure money stays where it belongs, at home, supporting Irish workers and businesses,” he said. He added that “whenever a wind turbine generates electricity, it pushes down wholesale electricity prices, helping to protect consumers.”
He said the group’s data shows prices were less than half on the windiest days compared with days more dependent on fossil fuels. “Having affordable and reliable sources of clean energy is vital for consumers to have confidence in our transition to a zero-carbon society,” he said.
WEI also warned that planning approvals for new onshore wind projects have slowed sharply. An Coimisiún Pleanála approved just one wind farm between July and September, leaving a backlog exceeding 2,000 MW of capacity awaiting decisions.
Cunniffe called for faster permitting and grid reinforcement. “To deliver more affordable, clean electricity for homes and businesses across Ireland, we need to work together to get wind farms through the planning system faster and to reinforce our electricity grid,” he said. He added that it was “disappointing that quarters two and three of this year have been poor for planning decisions,” and said rebuilding momentum in the final quarter of 2025 will be “critical” for getting more renewable projects into construction.
