Wind generation in Ireland reached the third highest level ever recorded for a July month, producing 786 gigawatt-hours of electricity and highlighting the growing contribution of renewable energy to the national grid.
Cork wind farms claimed the top spot for monthly generation for the first time this year, producing 85 gigawatt-hours and narrowly edging out Kerry’s 84 gigawatt-hours, according to Wind Energy Ireland’s latest monthly report published Tuesday.
The top five wind-producing counties – Cork, Kerry, Offaly (54 GWh), Galway (53 GWh), and Mayo (51 GWh) – together provided more than a quarter of Ireland’s wind power last month. Wind farms supplied 24% of the country’s total electricity demand during July, a slight increase compared to the same period in 2024.
Despite the strong wind performance, wholesale electricity prices rose slightly after months of sustained decreases. The average wholesale electricity price reached €99.61 per megawatt-hour in July 2025, down 10% from €110.94 in July 2024.
Wind Energy Ireland’s Director of External Affairs Justin Moran emphasized the economic benefits of wind generation, noting that “electricity generated by Irish wind farms replaces imported fossil fuels and pushes down wholesale electricity prices.”
The data revealed stark price differences based on wind availability – electricity costs averaged €84.80 per megawatt-hour on high-wind days compared to €111.55 when the system relied heavily on fossil fuels.
Moran highlighted the urgent need for grid infrastructure improvements, stating that Ireland loses valuable renewable electricity annually because the existing grid cannot handle full wind farm output. The government’s additional €3.5 billion investment in grid development, announced in the revised National Development Plan, aims to address these capacity constraints and accelerate clean energy delivery.