Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 February 2026
232. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the methodology used to attribute wind energy generation to individual counties, including the way in which generation is assigned where wind farms span more than one local authority area or where output is reported at regional or national level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11536/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra236. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the methodology used to attribute solar photovoltaic capacity and electricity generation to individual counties; the way in which data is compiled where installations span multiple local authority areas or where output is reported at regional or national level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11542/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 232 and 236 together.
Under the aegis of the Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce, work is underway on developing a supporting policy framework for Ireland’s electricity supply. This will deliver a regional balance and distribution of renewable technologies, including solar PV and onshore wind, and enable Ireland’s electricity supply to keep pace with economic growth, protecting Irish homes and businesses from volatile fossil fuel prices through the deployment of indigenous wind and solar energy across our regions.
As part of this approach, Regional Renewable Electricity Capacity Allocations for onshore wind and solar infrastructure are included in the first revision of the National Planning Framework, published in April 2025. The inclusion of these allocations supports an evidence-based distribution of renewable electricity generation projects and the associated infrastructure, across the three Regional Assembly areas.
Determining the regional capacity allocations was a data-driven process which considered multiple factors including geospatial, technical, environmental, and socio-economic considerations, with the guiding principle of delivering a more balanced and equitable distribution of onshore renewable energy capacity.
Officials from my Department are currently working with colleagues from the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage and the SEAI, under Government’s Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce, to support the three Regional Assemblies in the integration of the capacity allocations in their Regional Renewable Energy Strategies, to be adopted as part of the revision of their Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies.
The Regional Renewable Energy Strategies will include the identification of specific targets for each of the constituent local authorities. These targets will directly inform City and County Development Plans, ensuring consistency across the national, regional, and local planning tiers and alignment between local plans and national policy.
More information on the current installed renewable electricity capacity is publicly available online on the Regional Development Monitor at: https://rdm.geohive.ie/pages/6988931ceead4cb4a56498b3337023e7#LowCarbon2.
