New plan puts wind at centre of Ireland’s electrostate ambitions

Wind Energy Ireland has a dedicated plan to transform Ireland into a true electrostate, announced in its 2026-2030 Strategy: Delivering Energy Independence, Powering Growth.

At the centre of the plan is maximising the country’s wind resources, which the association says can be deployed at scale to boost energy independence and drive economic growth.

To achieve this, more on- and offshore wind must be built more quickly, while simultaneously electrifying the heat, transport and industrial sectors and integrating enabling technologies such as storage and demand side flexibility.

However, it's not just about building more wind power, says Noel Cunniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland. Equally important is delivering value for Irish consumers.

Said Cunniffe at the launch: “Becoming an electrostate involves far more than generating electricity, it is about ensuring we use that power to build a resilient, electrified, economy where Irish families and businesses can thrive.

“By building wind farms faster, strengthening our electricity grid, adding more storage and electrifying our economy, Ireland can secure clean, affordable power while creating new opportunities right across the economy.”

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The strategy focuses on achieving five strategic goals:

• Scaling wind power and grid, planning and regulatory bottlenecks;
• Growing clean energy demand through electrification, storage and flexibility;
• Telling Ireland’s clean energy story in a way that builds public trust and support;
• Making the industry ready by developing a skilled workforce and enabling emerging technologies through targeted research;
• Ensuring strong, agile and influential sector leadership.

Added Noel Cunniffe: “With major grid investment under way, offshore wind moving from ambition to delivery and the electrification of our economy accelerating, the decisions we take now will shape Ireland’s energy system for decades to come."

According to a report from the International Energy Agency, Powering Ireland’s Energy Future, the country is considered a frontrunner in the integration of renewable energy sources, with wind power supplying around a third of Ireland’s electricity in 2024, four times the global average.

The report also noted that Ireland’s electricity demand is projected to grow significantly over the next decade, mainly due to the housing, data centre, heat and transport sectors. 

PwC Ireland states that in Dublin, data centres already consume 21% of the country’s power, exceeding all urban homes combined – a situation which has led to connection moratoriums. 

The country will therefore need to overcome the challenge of grid capacity in order to meet electrification goals.

The good news is that EVs in Ireland are cheaper to operate than internal combustion alternatives despite high electricity prices. And in industrial settings, adds PwC Ireland, electric processes are increasingly outperforming gas-based systems in terms of efficiency and cost-effectiveness.