Wind Energy Ireland launches County Colours Dashboard
Wind Energy Ireland has launched a new interactive website, providing a comprehensive comparison of wind energy production and the associated benefits across the 26 counties of the Republic. The ‘County Colours’ platform offers users detailed insights into each county’s wind energy contributions. The breakdown also highlights the carbon emissions savings facilitated by local wind farms, and the important economic contribution wind farms make in their localities via community benefit funds and the commercial rates paid to their county council.
In 2023, wind energy supplied 35% of Ireland’s electricity, underscoring its significance in Ireland’s energy mix. The new website breaks down this figure, county by county, allowing users to explore county-specific data.
Kerry led wind energy generation in 2023, generating an impressive 1,664 GWh of energy, followed by Cork with 1,421 GWh and Galway with 833 GWh. A single gigawatt-hour (GWh) is the same amount of power consumed by around 230 Irish families every year.
These figures are a testament to the collective efforts of local communities and stakeholders in these counties, who have played a crucial role in advancing Ireland’s clean energy transition.
Noel Cunniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland, said: “This platform empowers communities, policymakers and industry stakeholders to understand and appreciate the substantial contributions of each county to our national renewable energy goals. It also highlights the substantial economic benefits associated with wind generation, via County Council rates and community benefit funds”
As Ireland aims to achieve 80% renewable electricity by 2030, NoelCunniffe highlighted the necessity for continued investment and supportive policies to maintain momentum in the wind energy sector: “We’ve made significant strides in our wind energy transition. Counties that have generated large amounts of Ireland’s wind energy output should take pride in this achievement. However, we still have a significant way to go.
“The County Colours dashboard shows that there is a high-level of variance across the 26 counties in terms of their wind energy output. Some counties generate a high percentage of our wind energy while others generate none. This also means that for many counties there are still significant opportunities to play their part in generating Ireland’s clean energy and avail of the benefits for their county.
“Not only will this mean cleaner, more secure, and cheaper energy for the people of Ireland, but on a county level, it will produce significant benefits too. History shows us that where energy is abundant prosperity follows.
“Wind Energy Ireland is committed to working with communities, policymakers, and industry partners to build more wind farms, ensuring an affordable, resilient and sustainable energy future for all.”
Explore the new interactive platform here: https://windenergyireland.com/about-wind/wind-energy-by-county
The top performing counties in 2023 in terms of wind energy generation were:
Kerry – 1,664 GWh
Cork – 1,421 GWh
Tipperary – 890 GWh
Galway – 833 GWh
Mayo – 829 GWh
Donegal – 711 GWh
