However, new data from Wind Energy Ireland shows the share of electricity provided by wind was down by 3% when compared to 2023. The association said this was largely due to wind farms being shut down because the electricity grid is not strong enough.
"Last year was the worst on record for the amount of wind power lost," Noel Cuniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland said. "Every time a wind turbine is shut down because the grid can’t take the electricity it means higher bills and more carbon emissions.”
"Making the electricity grid strong enough to accommodate increasing volumes of renewable energy is essential. Building out our energy storage infrastructure is also vital so that we can save excess renewable energy for when we need it."
The data shows wind energy provided 41% of electricity in December, making it the second-best December on record for the amount of electricity produced.
However, the average wholesale price of electricity in Ireland per megawatt-hour during December 2024 was €136.99, compared to €88.97 in December 2023 which reflects steadily rising gas prices over the second half of last year.
Prices last month on days with the most wind power saw the average cost of a megawatt-hour of electricity fall to €78.86 but more than treble to €294.37 on days when we relied almost entirely on fossil fuels.
