Wind Energy

Wind Energy

Ireland's Energy Story

Energy plays a very important role in modern life. It lights and heats our homes and offices, schools and hospitals, shops, ports and airports and other public facilities, as well as powering our industry and an increasing array of essential communication devices.

Currently, Ireland imports about 70% of its energy requirements. This figure will grow as the gas volumes from Corrib, a natural gas deposit off the northwest coast of Ireland, begin to decline, unless we develop additional renewable and sustainable resources. In 2015, our indigenous energy sources included 8% renewable energy, mainly hydro, wind, biomass and biogas.  Renewable sources of energy continue to grow in importance for our island.

Bord na Móna has a strong track record of siting, designing and delivering wind farms within its cutaway peatlands, including Bellacorick, Bruckana and Mountlucas Wind Farms.

The Need For Renewable

Government policy has set a target for 40% of the electricity consumed in Ireland in 2020 to be generated from renewable resources, within an overall renewable energy target of 16%. The development of wind farms will contribute to both Ireland’s 2020 target and higher obligations set by The European Union over the period to 2030. It is acknowledged that wind energy will provide the main component of Ireland’s renewable electricity at that time. Wind farms can also assist in the offset of carbon emissions from Ireland’s non-ETS sectors, such as agriculture, and through the electrification of heating and transport.

Looking beyond 2020, Ireland will have to meet even more demanding climate change and renewable energy supply obligations in order to play its part in achieving the European climate and energy ambitions. Wind farms will contribute to increasing the security of energy supply in Ireland and facilitate a higher level of energy generation self-sufficiency.

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Visit a Wind Farm

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Community Benefits

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