Irish wind farms supplied a third of the island’s electricity last year, as the Republic of Ireland’s onshore wind capacity surpassed 5,000 MW, according to Wind Energy Ireland’s annual report published today. The 150 MW of new capacity added in 2025 highlights the country’s growing potential to power homes and businesses with clean, affordable energy.

Wind farms delivered around 13,634 GWh of electricity across Ireland in 2025, with Kerry emerging as the top-producing county, followed by Cork and Galway. December was particularly strong, with wind providing 39% of national power, helping to push wholesale electricity prices down from €136.99 per MWh in December 2024 to €108.48 last month. Including solar and other renewables, 43% of the country’s electricity in December came from clean energy sources.

Noel Cunniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland, said the sector can take pride in its contribution to both consumers and carbon reduction. “Ireland now has over 5,000 MW of onshore wind energy, with a further 450 MW under construction and 2,500 MW with planning permission. By building more wind farms, strengthening our electricity grid, adding more storage and electrifying our economy, we can build an Irish electrostate where secure, clean, affordable power creates new opportunities right across the economy,” he said.

Grid challenges remain

Despite the sector’s growth, challenges remain. Increasing levels of “dispatch-down”—where wind farms are instructed to reduce output because the grid cannot carry all the electricity—meant that 13% of Ireland’s wind energy was unused in 2025. This forces greater reliance on imported fossil fuels, raising both electricity costs and carbon emissions.

Cunniffe stressed the importance of investing in grid and storage infrastructure: “Making the electricity grid strong enough to accommodate increasing volumes of affordable energy is essential. Recent government investments are welcome, but continued cross-party support for EirGrid and ESB Networks will be key.”

December 2025 marked the second-highest December on record for wind generation, delivering 1,523 GWh, just below the 1,819 GWh record set in 2023. Wholesale electricity prices fluctuated depending on energy sources, falling to €76.41 per MWh on windy days and rising to €148.55 on days dominated by fossil fuels.

Cunniffe concluded: “Irish people want the clean energy that wind farms provide. By growing our renewable sector, Ireland can strengthen its energy independence, reduce fossil fuel imports, deliver cleaner air, and support a competitive economy for future generations.”

The report is based on EirGrid SCADA data compiled by MullanGrid, market data from ElectroRoute, and county-level wind, solar, and other renewable generation data provided by Green Collective.