Wind energy reaches record in June

Wind energy provided 30 per cent of Ireland’s power in June, new data showed, making it the strongest June on record.

The report from Wind Energy Ireland showed a 6 per cent rise on June 2021, following a record set in May. Wind energy has provided 36 per cent of Ireland’s electricity since the start of the year.

The average price of electricity on the wholesale market was €181.84, but that varied between €90.78 on days when the wind was strongest and more than €230 on days that had little to no wind.

“New wind farms, along with solar and battery projects, will be connecting before the end of 2022, but we really need to accelerate the delivery of onshore renewables if we are to have any hope of staying within the expected carbon budget for the electricity sector,” said Noel Cunniffe, chief executive of Wind Energy Ireland.

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Planning delays have meant the average time for a decision on new wind farms is more than a year. Mr Cunniffe has called for reform of the system to get renewable energy projects up and running as quickly as possible. “The Government must instruct An Bord Pleanála to prioritise planning applications for renewable energy and related electricity grid infrastructure so that they can be properly assessed, decisions made and we can get them connected,” he said.