Ireland’s expanding wind energy sector delivered significant economic and environmental benefits last year, saving the country more than €1.2 billion in gas costs. 526m1h

According to the latest Cutting Carbon, Cutting Bills report from Baringa, wind energy protected Irish consumers from gas market volatility, cutting spending on gas for electricity by almost one billion euro. Wind farms across the country saved €748 million on gas—most of which would have been imported—and an additional €268 million on carbon credits. Northern Ireland contributed further savings of €213 million on gas and carbon credits, bringing the total all-island savings to more than €1.2 billion.

Source: Baringa

Electricity savings peaked in March, the most productive month for wind energy generation, and December, when gas prices were at their highest, with respective savings of €120 million and €170 million. Additionally, displaced gas use resulted in a reduction of five million tonnes of CO2 emissions—comparable to taking 1.8 million cars off the road for a year.

Wind energy’s growing role in Ireland’s energy mix 46263

Wind energy’s impact continued into January 2025, supplying a third of Ireland’s electricity. Wind Energy Ireland’s monthly dashboard revealed that 1,272 GWh of electricity was generated by wind last month. The average wholesale electricity price was €167.51 per megawatt-hour, but on the windiest days, costs dropped to €125.72 per MWh. Conversely, on days when fossil fuels dominated the energy mix, prices surged to €243.05 per MWh due to rising gas prices.

Noel Cunniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland, emphasized the crucial role of wind power in reducing costs, cutting emissions, and enhancing energy security. “Rather than importing hundreds of millions of euro worth of gas, Irish wind farms ensured money stayed where it belongs—at home, ing Irish workers and businesses,” he said.

However, grid capacity limitations prevented even greater savings. “Last year, Ireland achieved record wind energy generation capacity, suring 5,000 MW of onshore capacity. Yet, it was also the worst year on record for wind power lost due to grid constraints,” Cunniffe noted.

Urgent need for grid infrastructure upgrades 4n4cu

The inability to fully integrate wind power into the grid led to higher costs and emissions. Cunniffe stressed the urgency of reinforcing Ireland’s electricity infrastructure. “Every time a wind turbine is shut down because the grid can’t handle the electricity, it means higher bills and more carbon emissions,” he explained.

Cunniffe welcomed the Irish Government’s recent plans to strengthen the electricity grid. “As we saw during Storm Éowyn, grid resilience is key to meeting growing energy demands while ensuring a secure and sustainable future. We Minister Darragh O’Brien’s commitment to enhancing grid capacity to protect families and businesses from future energy crises.”

As Ireland continues its transition to renewable energy, addressing grid infrastructure challenges will be essential in maximizing the benefits of wind power and further reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels.