Wind provided 53% of Ireland’s electricity in February 2022, its highest-ever share.
Wind energy was also the number one source of electricity throughout the month and on 5 February set a new All-Ireland record for the amount of wind energy on the system at 4.6GW, according to a Wind Energy Ireland report.
The report also highlights the importance of wind energy in cutting the price of wholesale electricity, with results showing that during the windiest periods of the month, wholesale prices were almost €100 cheaper per MWh than during less windy days, at €134.25 per MWh, versus €229.62.
Noel Cunniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland, welcomed the results of the study.
He said: “These results show the ever-increasing importance of wind energy and renewables for the Irish energysector. It is vital that we bring through new wind farms as quickly as possible in the coming months and years to ensure we can consistently achieve figures like this if we are to meet the targets set in the Climate Action Plan.
“The fact that wholesale prices fall when wind energy production is high shows that windenergy will play an increasingly important role in the coming months, mitigating the worst effects of the predicted price increases for consumers due to spiralling fossil fuel import prices.”
The results of this report are based on EirGrid’s SCADA data compiled by MullanGrid and on market data provided by ElectroRoute. This is the first in what will be a continuing series of monthly reports from Wind Energy Ireland.