Wind Energy in Ireland
2022 wind energy numbers
The rate of construction of wind farms recovered in 2022 after two quiet years, with 197 MW of new capacity added under the new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS). 63.1 MW were decommissioned, bringing the net addition to 134 MW.
The government passed legislation by putting in place a new consenting regime for offshore renewable energy, and the terms and conditions for the first Offshore Renewable Electricity Support Scheme were published.
Visit the Irish Wind Energy Research Network webpage, and please review Ireland’s chapter in the IEA Wind TCP 2022 Annual Report.
National Targets
The 2023 update to the Climate Action Plan [1] increased the indicative 2030 target for offshore wind energy to 7GW, with 2GW for hydrogen production, to contribute to meeting an increased overall 80% renewable electricity target. The target for onshore wind was increased from 8.3GW to 9GW. Work started on a Renewable Electricity Spatial Planning Framework for onshore renewable electricity and an updated Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan for marine renewable energy resources.
Progress & Operational Details
197 MW of new onshore capacity was constructed in 2022. The majority of this was comprised of the first wind farms that were constructed under the new Renewable Energy Support Scheme. 63 MW of wind power capacity was decommissioned in 2022, bringing the net total of new capacity to 134MW.
The results of the RESS 2 auction for onshore renewable electricity were announced in June 2022, where 14 onshore wind projects totalling 414MW, were awarded a contract offer for an estimated 1270GWh/A [3].
National RDD Priorities and Budget
The SEAI National Energy Research Development and Demonstration (RD&D) Funding Programme invests in innovative energy RD&D projects, contributing to Ireland’s transition to a clean and secure energy future. A total of €20 million was invested in the programme in 2022 [6]. The key programme objectives include the following:
• Accelerate the development and deployment of competitive energy-related products, processes and systems in the Irish marketplace.
• Support solutions that enable technical and other barriers to market uptake to be overcome.