The latest data released by Wind Energy Ireland reveals that electricity demand in May 2024 rose slightly to 3,241 gigawatt-hours (GWh), up from 3,181 GWh in May of the previous year. Wind farms met 21 percent of this demand, which is below the typical average for wind energy in May. However, this shortfall was partially offset by a record-breaking month for solar power.
For the first time since Wind Energy Ireland started publishing data at a county level, Kerry was knocked off the top spot as country's leading source of wind energy. Cork took the lead in May, producing more wind power than any other county (76 GWh). It was closely followed by Kerry (68 GWh), Galway (50 GWh), Tipperary (45 GWh) and Tyrone (39 GWh).
Justin Moran, Director of External Affairs at Wind Energy Ireland, said: "While the amount of electricity generated by wind farms last month was lower than previous months, the good news is that renewable sources combined, such as wind and solar power, provided nearly 30 per cent of Ireland’s electricity in May.
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"Every time a wind turbine or solar panel is generating electricity, it is reducing our reliance on imported fossil fuels, helping to push down wholesale electricity prices and increasing our supply of clean energy to power our homes and local communities.
"We should be proud that our wind farms have provided more than a third of our electricity so far this year. That is clean electricity produced in Ireland to power our homes and businesses while cutting our carbon emissions.
"Wind farms can also be a haven for wildlife and offer wonderful family days out with a variety of walking, biking, horse-riding and hiking trails on offer, many of them open to the public every day. That is why we are dedicating the full month of June to celebrating our wind farms with our Get Out in the Wind campaign and encouraging everyone to experience Ireland’s clean energy in action."
Justin Moran concluded: "Irish wind farms, and last month particularly those in Cork, are playing an enormous part in reducing Ireland’s carbon emissions by over 4 million tonnes a year and creating significant opportunities in job creation and funding for rural communities. Ireland has significant renewable energy sources and by growing our renewable energy sector, we can build an Ireland that is energy independent, delivering warmer homes and cleaner air."
The report indicates that the average wholesale price of electricity in Ireland for May 2024 was €107.76 per megawatt-hour (MWh). On days with the highest wind power generation, the average cost per MWh dropped to €88.08, while on days predominantly reliant on fossil fuels, it increased to €118.77. The results of this report are based on EirGrid's SCADA data compiled by MullanGrid, market data provided by ElectroRoute and SEMO daily metered generated data compiled by Green Collective.
