Wind farms generated nearly a quarter of Ireland’s electricity in July, marking the third-highest output on record for the month, according to Wind Energy Ireland’s latest monthly report.
Wind energy supplied 24% of national electricity demand, with total generation reaching 786 gigawatt-hours (GWh). This represents a slight year-on-year increase from July 2024, though overall wholesale electricity prices saw a marginal rise after several months of decline.
Cork led all counties in wind energy generation for the first time in 2025, producing 85 GWh, followed closely by Kerry with 84 GWh. Offaly (54 GWh), Galway (53 GWh), and Mayo (51 GWh) rounded out the top five. The top three counties accounted for over one-quarter of the country’s total wind output in July.
“Electricity generated by Irish wind farms replaces imported fossil fuels and pushes down wholesale electricity prices,” said Justin Moran, director of external affairs at Wind Energy Ireland. “The more wind we can get on the system, the less we have to rely on expensive imported gas.”
The average wholesale electricity price in July was €99.61 per megawatt-hour (MWh), down 10% from €110.94/MWh in July 2024. On days of high wind output, prices fell further to €84.80/MWh, compared with €111.55/MWh when the grid relied almost entirely on fossil fuels.
Despite the gains, Moran warned that grid limitations remain a significant barrier to maximizing wind generation. “Every year we are losing more and more of Ireland’s most affordable renewable electricity because our existing grid is not strong enough to take the power our wind farms produce,” he said.
He welcomed the government’s recent commitment of an additional €3.5 billion for electricity grid development as part of the revised National Development Plan, describing it as a critical step toward enabling greater renewable integration.
In the first seven months of 2025, wind energy accounted for 31% of Ireland’s electricity, the report said. Moran added that since 2000, renewable electricity has conservatively saved Irish consumers nearly €1 billion in energy costs.
“Having an affordable, accessible and reliable source of clean energy is vital for consumers to have confidence in our transition to a zero-carbon society,” he said.
