Ireland lost 15 per cent of wind power in first half of 2026

28 Jun 2026

Wholesale electricity prices fall as Irish wind farms smash June record

Enough wind energy to power 667,000 homes, or roughly every household in Dublin, Westmeath and Wicklow combined, was lost in the first half of 2026 as the grid struggled to keep pace with Ireland’s renewable energy growth.

New analysis from Wind Energy Ireland, based on EirGrid figures, shows that significant volumes of renewable electricity generated by Irish wind farms could not be used because the electricity grid wasn’t strong enough carry it.

Despite these grid challenges Irish wind farms set a new record last month, with generation up nearly 5 per cent compared to the previous record in June 2025, reversing months of rising wholesale prices.

The findings come as wind remains Ireland’s largest source of clean electricity, providing more than a third of the country’s power since the start of this year.

However, the growing amount of wind energy lost every year highlights a growing gap between the growth of renewable energy and the infrastructure needed to move, store and use that power.

Justin Moran, Director of External Affairs at Wind Energy Ireland, said: “In the first six months of this year, 15 per cent of Ireland’s most affordable electricity was wasted because our existing grid was simply not strong enough to carry all the power that our wind farms produced to Irish homes and businesses.

“Every unit of renewable electricity we lose is a missed opportunity to reduce our reliance on imported fossil fuels and lower electricity costs for Irish consumers and businesses.

“That's why we need to accelerate investment in the electricity grid, energy storage and other technologies that allow us to make full use of renewable power when it is available.”

Grid development

Wind Energy Ireland welcomed the Government’s commitment to improving Ireland’s electricity network, reflected in the Programme for Government and reinforced by recent funding announcements to accelerate grid development.

Justin Moran added: “The long-term solution is investment in Ireland’s electricity network, and we welcome the work being done by EirGrid and ESB Networks to deliver that. Ensuring they have continued public and political support will be key to delivering the infrastructure needed to power Ireland’s future.

“New infrastructure cannot be built overnight but we need solutions that can make a difference in the short term. We should use every tool available to us now to make better use of the electricity network we already have — allowing more renewable energy to connect and helping existing lines carry more power.

“Wind farms are still not allowed to store power in batteries on the same site and new technology that can increase the amount of electricity that power lines accommodate is only just starting to be rolled out.

“Ireland has a world class wind resource, and with the right investment, we can turn more of that renewable energy into more affordable, secure and clean electricity to power homes and businesses across the country.”

Record-breaking June helps consumers

Wind farms helped reverse three months of rising wholesale electricity prices in June, with the average price falling by 6 per cent to €135.52 per megawatt-hour (MWh).

When wind generation was at its highest, average wholesale electricity prices dropped to €111.20 per megawatt-hour, 37 per cent lower than the €175.83 price seen on days when Ireland relied more heavily on imported fossil fuels.

The latest figures show that Kerry remained Ireland's highest-producing county for wind energy in June, generating 99 GWh of electricity. The Kingdom was followed by Cork (89 GWh), Galway (81 GWh), Offaly (69 GWh) and Mayo (68 GWh). Together, these counties accounted for almost half of all wind energy generated across the island during the month.

Wind farms generated 985 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity last month, meeting 31 per cent of Ireland's electricity demand.

Justin Moran concluded: “June's figures show the value wind energy delivers for Irish households and businesses. A record-breaking month reduced our dependence on imported fossil fuels and supported Irish consumers.

“As Ireland continues to increase its renewable energy capacity, wind will play an even greater role in strengthening our energy security and protecting consumers from volatile international gas markets.

“By accelerating the delivery of new wind farms and the grid infrastructure needed to connect them, we can provide Irish homes and businesses with cleaner, more secure and more affordable electricity.”

Dispatch down figures are based on EirGrid’s Dispatch Down Summary report. The results of the June wind energy report are based on EirGrid's SCADA data compiled by MullanGrid, market data provided by ElectroRoute and county-level wind generation data provided by Infranua.