Ireland is a world leader in onshore wind with over 5GW of installed capacity. The continued operation of Ireland's fleet of onshore wind farms is critical to ensuring a secure and affordable energy supply to 2030 and beyond. Repowering of existing wind farms has the potential to deliver an increase in energy generation, usually by replacing older, less efficient turbines with newer models with higher capacities, with limited additional environmental impact. Extension of lifetime of existing windfarms also has a key role to play in ensuring a secure, renewable electricity supply.
The Programme for Government 2025 highlights the role that repowering of existing wind farms can play in achieving our ambitious target of 9GW of onshore wind in the near term.
The Renewable Energy Directive requires Member States to introduce accelerated and simplified permitting procedures for the repowering of renewable energy projects. Through the Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce, my Department is working closely with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on a range of policy measures, including repowering of existing renewable electricity projects, to ensure that there is a supportive policy framework in place that facilitates the accelerated deployment of renewable developments and supports a streamlined process for repowering of existing windfarm projects.
My Department also engaged consultants to conduct an independent analysis on the repowering and life extension of Ireland’s current installed onshore wind energy projects. This analysis will help to inform the requirement for any necessary future policy framework that supports repowering of onshore wind farms.
A strengthened framework for repowering has been included in the Terms and Conditions of the upcoming RESS 6 auction published in July which provides strong incentives to efficiently repower existing wind farms and to align with the Renewable Energy Directive, as well as broader energy security, affordability and infrastructure objectives.
