Irish wind farms set new September record

According to Wind Energy Ireland’s latest monthly report, Irish wind farms generated record levels of electricity in September and supplied 37 per cent of the country’s electricity demand. On the days with the most wind power, wholesale electricity prices were more than a third lower, highlighting the role wind energy plays in driving electricity costs down.

The average wholesale electricity price in September rose to €182.13 per megawatt-hour (MWh) on the back of steadily rising gas prices. On days when wind generation was at its highest, the average price fell to €142.78 per megawatt hour. By contrast, on days where we were forced to depend on imported gas, it reached €226.51 per megawatt hour, almost 25 per cent above the monthly average.

Wind farms generated 1,256 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity during September. This surpassed the previous September record of 1,128 GWh set last year and represented an increase of 11 per cent. The report also shows that over one third of Ireland’s electricity during the first nine months of 2026 came from wind farms.

Noel Cunniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland, said: “Last month was the best September on record for wind energy with Irish wind farms supplying more than a third of our electricity. Wind and solar together met over 42 per cent of demand, helping to power homes and businesses with clean, home-grown energy.

“Wholesale electricity prices were almost €84 lower on the days with the most wind energy compared with prices on the days when we had to rely on imported gas. This demonstrates the value of wind energy in reducing our exposure to imported fossil fuels and volatile international energy prices.

“But we need to build on this progress. Quicker grid connections, faster planning decisions and investment in energy storage will help us deliver more Irish renewable electricity and make better use of the energy we produce.”

County figures

Comparing county-by-county generation, Kerry (131 GWh) led Ireland’s wind energy leaderboard in September, followed by Cork (102 GWh), Offaly (98 GWh), Mayo (89GWh) and Galway (88 GWh).

Noel Cunniffe concluded: “Communities across Ireland, like those in Kerry, are making a huge contribution to our energy security. These figures show the important role counties are playing in powering our country, while also showing how wind energy brings investment and new opportunities to rural Ireland.”