Wind Energy Ireland (WEI) established a Policy & Research Fund in 2022 to progress key strategic objectives for the industry.
Revenue secured through the Fund is ring-fenced to advance WEI’s strategic policy priorities, including the development of innovative research and reports, investment in initiatives that strengthen WEI’s engagement with policymakers in Ireland and internationally, and the expansion of staffing resources in key priority areas.
Wind Energy Ireland’s Policy & Research Fund is proudly supported by:
What has the fund helped deliver already?
1) Evidence-Based Research Reports
The Policy & Research Fund has contributed towards the development of several evidence-based research reports throughout 2025, helping to strengthen the analytical foundation underpinning renewable policy and advocacy.
These reports have provided policymakers, stakeholders and the wider public with independent analysis on the economic, consumer and climate benefits associated with increased deployment of renewable energy, particularly wind energy.
• Good for Your Pocket: How Renewable Energy Helps Irish Electricity Consumers – Baringa
• Protecting Consumers: Our Onshore Wind Energy Opportunity – MKO
• Cutting Carbon, Cutting Bills – an analysis of savings in gas consumption delivered by wind farms in 2024 – Baringa
2) Public Engagement and National Wind Energy Campaigns
The fund has played an important role in enabling key external affairs campaigns and broader public engagement activity across the sector.
This includes helping to fund regional radio partnerships (e.g. Limerick, Galway and Waterford) and our expanded presence at the Ploughing Championships in 2025. It is also supporting our wider marketing campaigns such as Get Out in the Wind, Build Our Grid and The Power of Tomorrow which placed a dedicated focus on offshore wind.
These campaigns have helped strengthen public understanding of the role renewable energy will play in delivering Ireland’s climate targets, enhancing energy security and supporting economic development in communities across the country. The fund has enabled WEI to engage with audiences through a combination of national and regional media, public events and targeted communications activity, ensuring that clear and accessible information on the energy transition reaches a broad cross-section of stakeholders and the wider public.
3) Development of WEI’s Capacity
In 2025, the Policy & Research Fund enabled WEI to strengthen its senior policy capacity through the appointment of a dedicated Consenting Manager who joined the organisation in March.
This additional resource reflects the growing importance of planning reform in delivering Ireland’s renewable energy ambitions and supporting the timely development of critical energy infrastructure. The role is helping WEI to engage more effectively with policymakers, regulators and stakeholders on consenting policy.
More broadly, funding secured under the Policy & Research Fund has allowed WEI to continue investing in staff resources across several strategic areas. Over the past four years, WEI has established a two-year Graduate Development Programme and welcomed several new graduates into the organisation.
Look ahead: What the fund will support in 2026 and beyond?
In 2026, the Policy & Research Fund will continue to support a targeted programme of research, external affairs activity and organisational development aligned with strategic priorities.
Policy Reports and Research
The Fund will support the delivery of major policy reports during 2026, alongside the development of a longer-term studies programme aligned with the priorities of members.
• Cutting Carbon, Cutting Bills – analysis of the reduction in gas consumption and associated consumer savings delivered by wind generation during 2025.
• Cutting the Cost of Wind Development – research with Baringa examining opportunities to reduce the cost of wind energy development in Ireland.
• An updated Offshore Wind Action Plan for 2026.
• A new Onshore Wind Action Plan, following a series of developer meetings taking place in April and May.
WEI will also engage with Fund contributors during 2026 to develop a multi-year programme of future studies across key policy priorities identified in our new strategy 2026-2030.
External Affairs Campaigns
Building on the external affairs activity delivered during 2025, the Fund will support a continued programme of public engagement and communications activity during 2026. This will include delivery of a new Clear the Air campaign, focused on addressing misinformation and improving public understanding of onshore wind and electrification. Also, development of a new onshore wind campaign is planned for the second half of 2026.
Team Development
The Fund will continue to support organisational capability within WEI through investment in senior capacity building across key strategic and policy functions within the WEI team and ongoing graduate development initiatives.
Testimonials from our proud funders
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“For me, WEI is a classic example of the total being greater than the sum of the parts. The collective voice of WEI captures the essence of the wind industry in Ireland and speaks with credibility to our external stakeholders. It's that credibility which leads those outside of the industry to listen to what WEI says and, more importantly, trust their assessment.”
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“The Joint venture between Bord na Móna and Ocean Winds is delighted to contribute to the Wind Energy Ireland Policy & Research Fund. Both companies see the value in research in enabling us to reach our renewable energy targets. The link with European policy and research is also an important enabler for Ireland’s deployment of renewable energy.”- Angela Larking, General Manager, Ocean Winds |
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