The Irish Wind Farmers Association (IWFA) has warned that Ireland is unlikely to meet its 2030 renewable energy targets without a viable route for community and small farmer-led wind projects, telling its annual conference in Kilkenny that current rules continue to disadvantage smaller developments.
Addressing more than 100 members and stakeholders, the organisation said one- and two-turbine projects owned by farmers and community groups remain the most constrained under existing planning, pricing and ownership regulations. The IWFA welcomed elements of planning reform passed in October but said administrative and procedural delays continue to obstruct project progress.
The group estimated that up to 35 new small-scale projects could close the State’s onshore community renewable energy target of 500 MW by 2030. A survey conducted among members and stakeholders showed that 91.7% of respondents are not confident the Government will meet its 2030 climate obligations, with planning and grid connectivity cited as the biggest obstacles.
The IWFA said a 2021 policy from the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications requiring 100% community ownership has rendered many schemes financially unviable. According to the group, lenders are unwilling to finance inexperienced, stand-alone community projects.
“The 100% community rule made projects untenable,” IWFA chairperson Richard Walshe said. “Banks simply cannot finance inexperienced community projects.”
Walshe added that “the fastest energy we can build is on Irish soil, by Irish farmers, for Irish communities,” but argued that developers “need to jump through too many hoops to build turbines and get connected to the grid.” He called on the Government to revert to a “51 per cent REC model, pay a fair market rate for wind energy, allow hybrid connections and finally get out of our own way on planning.”
“We didn’t run out of wind — we ran into bureaucracy, banks can’t fund,” he said, warning that “every delay costs households and businesses. Our members stand ready to deliver, but only if planning, grid and market rules finally line up.”
