Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 April 2026
88. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the initiatives he is taking to ensure greater public support for onshore wind energy generation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27337/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraRecent geopolitical events have shown that the best way to protect electricity consumers, protect our economy, and deliver a more stable and secure energy future is to increase our renewable electricity capacity. Countries with a greater share of renewables are better protected from the impact of volatility in the international fossil fuel markets.
We are seeing that here with recent high renewables limiting the impact of gas price increases on electricity prices and with an ESRI report published this week highlighting how our renewable generation increasingly acts as a hedge against higher wholesale electricity prices.
Currently, we have over 8 GW of renewable electricity generation, up from 5 GW in 2015. Onshore wind now stands at over 5 GW, a doubling since 2015. Provisional figures from EirGrid show that in 2025 nearly 41% of electricity grid demand was met with renewables, with that figure jumping to nearly 50% in both February and March this year.
Communities throughout the country support and are benefiting from renewable electricity projects, through investment and employment in local economies, the paying of commercial rates to Local Authorities, and Community Benefit Funds supporting sustainable community initiatives.
My Department recently launched the ‘Our Energy, Our Future’ information campaign to highlight the opportunities and benefits presented by renewables and achievements so far. My Department is also engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation and relevant agencies to enhance Government communication to promote the importance of infrastructure delivery and foster a shared societal understanding of the benefits of renewable infrastructure development.
Officials from my Department continue to work with the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage on a review of the Wind Energy Development Guidelines, which will inform a new National Planning Statement on Wind Energy.
