Ireland is one of the windiest countries in Europe, and wind energy is now the single biggest source of renewable electricity on the island. In 2025, wind farms provided a third of all electricity generated across Ireland, delivering around 13,634 GWh of clean power to homes and businesses.
Whether you’re a homeowner curious about how wind power affects your electricity bills, a student researching climate change in Ireland, or simply want to understand what all those turbines on the horizon actually do, this guide covers everything you need to know about wind energy in Ireland right now.
⚡ How Much of Ireland’s Electricity Comes From Wind?
Wind energy is Ireland’s number one source of renewable electricity. Here are the key figures for 2025:
🌿 Wind farms generated approximately 13,634 GWh of electricity across the island of Ireland
🌿 Wind provided 33% of Ireland’s total electricity supply for the year
🌿 In December 2025 alone, wind hit 39% of all electricity generated
🌿 Combined with solar and hydro, renewables reached 43% of supply in December 2025
🌿 A new all-time peak of 3,898 MW was recorded on 14 February 2026
The top wind-producing counties are Kerry, Cork and Galway, which together account for a significant share of Ireland’s total wind generation. These counties benefit from strong Atlantic winds and well-established wind farm infrastructure.
💰 How Does Wind Energy Affect Your Electricity Bills?
This is the part most people care about, and the numbers are striking. In 2025, wind and solar energy saved Irish consumers over €1.5 billion in gas and carbon costs. Of that total, wind alone accounted for roughly €1.4 billion in savings.
The reason is straightforward. On days when wind generation is high, wholesale electricity prices drop significantly. In 2025, the average wholesale price on high-wind days was around €76 per megawatt hour. On days when Ireland relied mostly on fossil fuels, that figure jumped to nearly €149 per megawatt hour – almost double.
Between 2020 and 2023, renewable energy reduced energy bills by an average of €320 per person. As Ireland builds more wind and solar capacity, those savings are expected to grow.
If you’re looking to cut your own energy costs even further, combining wind-powered grid electricity with solar panels on your roof is one of the smartest moves available to Irish homeowners right now. The SEAI grants programme can help cover the upfront costs.
🏗️ How Many Wind Farms Does Ireland Have?
Ireland has over 300 wind farms, the vast majority of which are onshore. The country now has more than 5,000 MW of installed onshore wind capacity, with a further 450 MW under construction and 2,500 MW of projects holding planning permission.
Ireland’s largest wind farm is the 174 MW Galway Wind Park in Connemara, County Galway, co-owned by SSE Renewables and Greencoat Renewables.
Offshore wind is still in its early stages. Ireland currently has just one offshore wind farm – the Arklow Bank Wind Park off the coast of County Wicklow, generating 25 MW from seven turbines. However, that is about to change dramatically.
🌊 Offshore Wind – Ireland’s Biggest Opportunity
Ireland’s offshore wind potential is enormous. The country’s long Atlantic coastline and exposure to some of Europe’s strongest winds make it one of the best locations for offshore wind development anywhere in the world.
The government has set ambitious targets:
🌿 5 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030
🌿 20 GW by 2040
🌿 37 GW by 2050
In 2023, Ireland held its first ever offshore wind auction (ORESS 1), awarding over 3 GW of capacity across four major projects. This was the largest volume of renewable energy ever procured at auction in Ireland, enough to power over 2.5 million homes.
Key offshore projects in the pipeline include:
🌿 Arklow Bank Phase 2 – up to 520 MW off the Wicklow coast, developed by SSE Renewables
🌿 Dublin Array – a joint venture between RWE and Saorgus Energy in the Irish Sea
🌿 North Irish Sea Array (NISA) – 500 MW developed by Statkraft
🌿 Tonn Nua – a 900 MW site off the Waterford coast earmarked for the second auction
🌿 Celtic Offshore Wind – a 1.5 GW project by ESB and Orsted in two phases
🌿 Western Star – up to 1.35 GW of floating wind off the Clare coast
However, there are real challenges. No offshore project has yet broken ground, and industry body Wind Energy Ireland has warned that the 5 GW target by 2030 is unlikely to be met. The main bottlenecks are planning delays, grid capacity and a lack of suitable port infrastructure to support construction.
🔌 The Grid Problem – Why 13% of Wind Energy Was Wasted
One of the biggest challenges facing wind energy in Ireland is the electricity grid itself. In 2025, approximately 13% of the country’s cheapest wind-generated electricity was wasted because the grid was not strong enough to carry all the power being produced.
This is known as “dispatch down” – where wind farms are told to reduce their output because the grid cannot handle it. The level of dispatch down has been rising by roughly 1% per year, meaning more and more clean, affordable electricity is being lost.
The solution requires major investment in grid infrastructure, which EirGrid and ESB Networks are working on. Energy storage, including battery systems, will also play a key role in capturing excess wind energy for use during calmer periods.
This is why Ireland’s push towards renewable energy is not just about building more wind farms – it is about building the infrastructure to actually use the power they produce.
🌍 Wind Energy and Ireland’s Climate Targets
Ireland has legally binding targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. Wind energy is central to achieving both goals.
The Climate Action Plan sets targets for renewable electricity capacity by 2030:
🌿 9 GW of onshore wind
🌿 5-7 GW of offshore wind
🌿 8 GW of solar
The overall aim is for 80% of Ireland’s electricity to come from renewable sources by 2030. In 2025, renewables supplied around 33-43% depending on the month, so there is still a significant gap to close.
In 2025 alone, wind and solar energy avoided more than 5 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions across the island of Ireland. That is equivalent to the annual energy-related emissions from approximately 1.2 million homes.
If you are interested in understanding Ireland’s broader climate commitments, our guide to climate change in Ireland explains the full picture.
🏠 Can You Get a Wind Turbine for Your Home?
Small-scale domestic wind turbines do exist, but they are far less common than solar panels for Irish homes. There are a few reasons for this:
🌿 Wind turbines need consistent, unobstructed wind to be effective – most residential areas are too sheltered
🌿 Planning permission can be difficult to obtain for domestic turbines
🌿 The upfront costs are higher relative to solar panels
🌿 There is currently no specific SEAI grant for domestic wind turbines (unlike the solar PV grant of up to €2,400)
For most Irish homeowners, the best way to benefit from wind energy is through the national grid. When wind generation is high, wholesale electricity prices drop, which feeds through to lower bills for everyone.
If you want to actively reduce your energy costs and carbon footprint at home, solar panels with an SEAI grant remain the most practical option. You can also explore the full range of SEAI home energy grants including insulation and heat pump upgrades.
🌱 The Economic Case for Wind Energy in Ireland
Beyond environmental benefits, wind energy makes strong economic sense for Ireland. Here is why:
🌿 Reduced fossil fuel imports – Every megawatt hour generated by wind is a megawatt hour Ireland does not need to import as gas. In 2025, renewable energy shielded consumers from volatile international gas prices.
🌿 Cumulative savings of €6.7 billion – Over the past four years, wind and solar have saved Ireland €6.7 billion in gas and carbon costs that would otherwise have gone to the global fossil fuel industry.
🌿 Local jobs and investment – Wind farm development, construction, maintenance and operations create employment across rural Ireland, particularly in counties like Kerry, Cork, Galway, Mayo and Donegal.
🌿 Energy security – Generating electricity from Irish wind reduces the country’s dependence on imported fossil fuels and the geopolitical risks that come with that dependence.
🌿 Attracting investment – Major international energy companies including Orsted (Denmark), Statkraft (Norway) and RWE (Germany) are investing heavily in Irish wind energy, bringing capital and expertise.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Wind Energy in Ireland
🔹 How much of Ireland’s electricity comes from wind?
In 2025, wind farms provided approximately 33% of Ireland’s total electricity supply. During the windiest months, that figure rises above 39%.
🔹 How many wind farms are there in Ireland?
Ireland has over 300 wind farms, almost all onshore. Total installed onshore wind capacity is now above 5,000 MW. There is currently one small offshore wind farm at Arklow Bank (25 MW), with multiple large offshore projects in development.
🔹 Does wind energy reduce electricity bills?
Yes. Wind energy directly reduces wholesale electricity prices. In 2025, wind and solar saved over €1.5 billion in gas and carbon costs across the island of Ireland. On high-wind days, wholesale prices were almost half what they were on days reliant on fossil fuels.
🔹 What are Ireland’s wind energy targets for 2030?
Ireland is targeting 9 GW of onshore wind and 5-7 GW of offshore wind by 2030, as part of the goal to generate 80% of electricity from renewable sources.
🔹 Can I put a wind turbine on my house?
Technically yes, but it is rarely practical for Irish homes. Most residential areas do not have consistent enough wind, and there is no SEAI grant for domestic wind turbines. Solar panels are a much better option for most homeowners.
🔹 Why is some wind energy wasted in Ireland?
In 2025, around 13% of wind energy was “dispatched down” because the electricity grid could not handle the volume of power being produced. Upgrading grid infrastructure and adding energy storage are key priorities to solve this problem.
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Climate Jargon Buster is an independent resource providing plain-English information on climate, energy and sustainability topics for an Irish audience. The statistics in this article are sourced from Wind Energy Ireland, EirGrid, SEAI and RTE News. For the latest official data, visit windenergyireland.com and seai.ie.