Ireland’s wind energy industry has launched a new five-year strategy aimed at transforming the country into one of Europe’s first “electrostates”, powered by secure, affordable and domestically produced clean electricity.

The 2026–2030 Strategy, titled Delivering Energy Independence, Powering Growth, was presented on 21 January 2026 during Wind Energy Ireland’s Annual Conference, held at the Clayton Burlington Hotel in Dublin. The event featured contributions from Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien TD and EirGrid CEO Cathal Marley.

The strategy sets out a roadmap to harness Ireland’s wind resources at scale in order to strengthen energy independence, shield consumers from volatile fossil fuel markets and support sustainable economic growth across all regions of the country.

According to the document, the plan rests on two core deliverables: accelerating the development of onshore and offshore wind farms at the lowest possible cost for consumers, and speeding up the transition to a resilient, electrified economy by expanding clean electricity demand in heating, transport and industry.

The roadmap is structured around five strategic goals. These include delivering wind power at scale by addressing grid, planning and regulatory constraints; growing clean energy demand through electrification, storage and system flexibility; and strengthening public engagement to build trust and support for the energy transition.

The strategy also places a strong emphasis on preparing the industry for future challenges by developing a skilled and adaptable workforce, supporting emerging technologies through targeted research, and providing strong and effective sector leadership to guide Ireland’s clean energy transition.

Speaking at the launch, Noel Cunniffe, Chief Executive of Wind Energy Ireland, said that becoming an electrostate goes beyond electricity generation alone. He stressed that the concept involves using clean power to build a resilient and fully electrified economy that benefits households and businesses alike.

Cunniffe highlighted that energy independence would translate into cleaner air in towns and cities, homes that are warmer and more affordable to run, and communities supported by infrastructure designed for long-term sustainability rather than short-term solutions.

He added that faster deployment of wind farms, reinforcement of the electricity grid, expanded energy storage and increased electrification across the economy would enable Ireland to secure clean and affordable power while creating new economic opportunities nationwide.