Wind Energy Ireland has identified electricity grid capacity as the single biggest obstacle to delivering Ireland’s next wave of onshore wind projects, warning that the country’s ability to achieve greater energy independence will depend on how quickly it can strengthen its grid and connect new renewable generation.

The industry body made the assessment on 22 September as it launched an Onshore Wind Action Plan containing 15 measures aimed at accelerating the development of new wind farms, improving investor confidence and making better use of Ireland’s existing electricity infrastructure.

The plan was developed following workshops with 22 members of Wind Energy Ireland, representing almost the entire national onshore wind development pipeline. It argues that Ireland has already established one of Europe’s leading onshore wind industries, but that the next phase of the energy transition is being constrained by the State’s capacity to consent, connect and operate new projects.

Ireland currently has just over 5,000 MW of installed onshore wind capacity, according to Wind Energy Ireland. A further 3,000 MW of approved projects are seeking grid connections.

The organisation says the problem is now systemic. Its members identified constraints across planning, grid connections and the electricity market, with insufficient grid capacity emerging as the most significant barrier to bringing new projects into operation.

“Grid-related issues are the single greatest barrier to delivering new projects,” Wind Energy Ireland CEO Noel Cunniffe said, according to the organisation.

Fifteen actions to speed up project delivery

The action plan sets out 15 measures grouped under four pillars: building public support, achieving planning consent, getting projects connected to the grid and enabling investment.

Eight actions are identified as priorities.

At the centre of the plan is a call to accelerate the delivery of strategic transmission infrastructure and publish a long-term roadmap for Ireland’s electricity grid. Wind Energy Ireland also wants a faster and more predictable grid connection process, including greater transparency over connection programmes, project dependencies and energisation schedules.

The industry body is also calling for a dedicated Dispatch Down Action Plan to reduce the amount of renewable electricity that is available but cannot be used because of system constraints or other limitations.

It proposes that the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment work with industry and EirGrid on measures to deliver sustained reductions in lost renewable generation.

Wind Energy Ireland argues that reducing Dispatch Down would increase renewable electricity generation and improve the economics of wind projects while making better use of infrastructure already connected to the system.

Another key proposal is to make it possible for renewable projects to use fully hybrid grid connections, allowing batteries to share grid connections with wind farms and creating a pathway for different renewable technologies and storage assets to operate through integrated connections.

The plan calls for the implementation of Sharing of Maximum Export Capacity (MEC), a roadmap for allowing multiple legal entities to participate in connection agreements, and a framework for integrated hybrid units.

Wind Energy Ireland also wants Ireland to accelerate the deployment of long-duration energy storage, including a dedicated procurement framework and a long-term route to market for storage projects.

The objective is to increase the amount of renewable electricity that can be integrated into the system and improve utilisation of existing electricity infrastructure.

The industry body is also calling for changes to Ireland’s planning system.

It argues that recent reforms have created the foundations for a faster consenting system, but that their implementation has been inconsistent between planning authorities and statutory consultees.

Wind Energy Ireland says differences in the handling of application validation, environmental assessment, consultation requirements and new provisions under the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) are adding complexity and extending project timelines.

The action plan calls for clearer direction from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, standardised procedures, mandatory RED III training and annual reporting of planning performance, including validation periods, application timelines and appeal durations.

The organisation also calls for additional resources for An Coimisiún Pleanála, local authorities and the Planning and Environment Court.

It wants the remaining sections of the Planning and Development Act 2024 to commence by the end of 2026 while ensuring that RED III is fully implemented.

Wind Energy Ireland is also calling for greater alignment between national, regional and local planning policy.

The organisation wants updated Wind Energy Development Guidelines, Regional Renewable Energy Strategies and local development plans to reflect national renewable energy policy, current planning legislation and the characteristics of modern wind technology.

It argues that greater consistency between these planning instruments would provide more certainty for developers, planning authorities and local communities.

The action plan includes measures aimed at maintaining public support for new renewable energy and grid infrastructure.

Wind Energy Ireland proposes allocating €10 million annually to a national communications and marketing campaign, using independent polling and behavioural research to address what it describes as disinformation and strengthen public engagement with energy infrastructure.

The plan also calls for greater investment in community engagement and renewable-energy community benefit schemes.

Wind farms are expected to pay €75 million in commercial rates to rural county councils in 2026, according to Wind Energy Ireland. The organisation says nine counties now receive more than 10% of their total commercial-rates income from wind farms.

It also says that almost €7 million was distributed through community benefit funds in 2024.

The action plan argues that ensuring communities continue to receive economic, social and environmental benefits from renewable energy development will be important in maintaining public support.

Wind Energy Ireland is calling for a stable and bankable Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS), including confirmation of its future under State Aid rules and publication of a multi-year auction roadmap.

The organisation also wants greater use of Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (CPPAs) and the development of private-wire arrangements.

The objective, according to the plan, is to provide greater certainty for domestic and international investors while reducing project costs and accelerating deployment.

Wind Energy Ireland argues that many of the legislative and regulatory foundations needed to expand renewable generation are already in place. The immediate challenge, it says, is implementation.

The organisation proposes that the Government’s Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce (ARET) oversee implementation of the action plan, coordinate delivery across Government and public bodies, and monitor progress.

The broader argument is that Ireland’s next stage of renewable development will depend less on setting new ambitions than on removing the practical barriers preventing projects already in the pipeline from being built and connected.

With more than 5,000 MW of onshore wind already installed and another 3,000 MW of approved projects awaiting grid connections, Wind Energy Ireland says strengthening the electricity network is central to turning that pipeline into additional renewable generation.

The industry body argues that faster project delivery, more efficient use of existing grid capacity and lower levels of renewable-energy curtailment could increase the amount of clean electricity available to Irish consumers while reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels.