Wind Energy Ireland has launched a new interactive website to provide a comparison of wind energy production and the associated benefits across the country’s 26 counties.
The new ‘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 economic contribution wind farms make in their localities via community benefit funds and the commercial rates paid to their county council.
Wind energy supplied 35% of Ireland’s electricity in 2023, highlighting its significance in the country’s energy mix.
Kerry led wind energy generation in 2023, generating 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.
Ireland is aiming to achieve 80% renewable electricity by 2030.
Noel Cunniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland, said the new platform empowers communities, policymakers and industry stakeholders to understand and appreciate the substantial contributions of each county to the country’s national renewable energy goals.
He said 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,” Mr Cuniffe said.
“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,” he added.