Wind farms provided 32 per cent of Ireland’s electricity so far in 2024

More than a quarter of Ireland’s power came from wind farms last month with the country’s cheapest renewable energy meeting 32 per cent of electricity demand over the first 11 months of 2024. That is according to Wind Energy Ireland, which today published its monthly wind energy report.

Despite a drop in wind power generation compared to previous Novembers, strong winds during the second half of last month resulted in wind farms providing 29 per cent of Ireland’s clean electricity, while solar power and other renewables accounted for an additional three per cent. 

Grid challenges

However, Wind Energy Ireland highlighted the continuing high volumes of wasted energy with record levels of constraints on the electricity grid limiting the amount of power Irish wind farms are allowed to provide.

Over the first ten months of the year, 14 per cent of wind energy production was lost because of challenges with the transmission network.

This is partly due to wind energy being lost because the electricity grid is not strong enough to carry it. When this happens wind farms are instructed to reduce the amount of power they produce or shut down completely, resulting in the use of more expensive fossil fuels instead of cheaper clean energy.

Wind Energy Ireland called again for the incoming Government to make the reinforcement of our electricity grid a top national priority.

Noel Cunniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland, said: “When our wind and solar farms are generating electricity, we need a strong grid to ensure we can use it and we need long-duration energy storage so we can save the excess renewable energy for when we need it.

“Over the first ten months of the year, 14 per cent of wind energy production was lost because of challenges with the transmission network. Irish families and businesses simply can’t afford to be using expensive, imported, fossil fuels instead of cheaper clean energy simply because the grid isn’t strong enough to carry it.

“That is why we calling for cross-party political support for the reinforcement of our electricity grid, as set out in EirGrid and ESB Networks’ national plans, to be among top priorities for political parties entering into negotiations to form our next Government. Investing in our electricity grid is a vital investment in our future.”

Price of electricity

The average wholesale price of electricity in Ireland per megawatt-hour during November 2024 was €146.14, which is the highest it has been during the previous 12-month period.

Prices on days with the most wind power saw the average cost of a megawatt-hour of electricity fall 26 per cent to €108.84 per megawatt-hour and rise to €196.81 on days when we relied almost entirely on fossil fuels.

County breakdown

Kerry wind farms continued to lead the way in decarbonising our electricity supply, producing more wind energy than any other county (127 GWh). Cork wind farms came in second with 123 GWh, followed by Mayo (69 GWh).

For the second time since we began publishing county generation data, in collaboration with Green Collective, Galway and Tipperary tied for fourth place (64 GWh).

Noel Cunniffe added: “Irish people want the clean energy that wind farms provide and by growing our renewable energy sector, we can build an Ireland that is energy independent, delivering warm homes, cleaner air and one that meets the needs of our growing economy.”

Noel Cunniffe concluded: “The incoming Dáil will be at the forefront of enabling our energy transition and, as negotiations to form our next Government begin, Wind Energy Ireland is asking political parties to prioritise Irish electricity consumers who want secure, affordable, power in the next Programme for Government.”

The results of this report are based on EirGrid’s SCADA data compiled by MullanGrid, market data provided by ElectroRoute and solar, other renewable and county-level wind generation data provided by Green Collective.