A new interactive website, providing a comprehensive comparison of wind energy production and associated benefits across the 26 counties of the Republic, has been launched by Wind Energy Ireland (WEI).
The “county colours” platform offers users detailed insights into each county’s wind energy contributions. The breakdown also highlights carbon emissions savings facilitated by local wind farms, and the economic contribution wind farms make in their localities via community benefit funds and commercial rates paid to their county council.
In 2023, wind energy supplied 35 per cent of Ireland’s electricity, underscoring its growing significance in Ireland’s energy mix and replacement of imported fossil fuels. The website breaks down this figure, county by county, allowing users to explore county-specific data.
Kerry led wind energy generation in 2023, generating 1,664 gigawatt hours (GWh) of energy, followed by Cork with 1,421GWh, Tipperary with 890GWh, Galway with 833GWh, Mayo with 829GWh and Donegal with 711GWh. A single GWh is the same amount of power consumed by about 230 Irish families every year.
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These figures are testament to the collective efforts of local communities and stakeholders in these counties, who have played a crucial role in advancing Ireland’s clean energy transition, according to WEI chief executive Noel Cunniffe.
He added: “This platform empowers communities, policymakers and industry stakeholders to understand and appreciate the substantial contributions of each county to our national renewable energy goals. It also highlights substantial economic benefits associated with wind generation.”
As Ireland aims to achieve 80 per cent renewable electricity by 2030, Mr Cunniffe highlighted the necessity for continued investment and supportive policies to maintain momentum in the sector.
“We’ve made significant strides in our wind energy transition. Counties that have generated large amounts of Ireland’s wind energy output should take pride in this achievement. However, we still have a significant way to go,” he said.
The dashboard indicates a high level of variance in terms of wind energy output. Some counties generate a high percentage of our wind energy while others generate none. The data indicates wind development is concentrated along the western seaboard where wind speeds are highest.
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WEI has called on the Government to ensure county development plans are aligned with national policy for onshore wind energy to ensure national and European energy objectives are met and to approve the National Planning Framework to set targets for renewable energy at a regional and county level.
The unevenness of onshore wind development “also means that for many counties there are still significant opportunities to play their part in generating Ireland’s clean energy and avail of the benefits for their county”, Mr Cunniffe said. “Not only will this mean cleaner, more secure, and cheaper energy for the people of Ireland, but on a county level it will produce significant benefits too. History shows us that where energy is abundant prosperity follows.”
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