Wind Energy Ireland has released its August Wind Energy report, which shows that wind energy provided 20% of Ireland’s electricity in August 2022.  

The latest figures mean that wind energy has supplied 32% of Ireland’s electricity demand this year to the end of August.

The volume of electricity produced by wind energy increased by 4% over the same month last year but the share of demand remained the same as demand for power also rose.

The report also highlights again how wind energy pushes electricity prices down and helps to insulate Irish families and businesses from rising fossil-fuel prices.

Noel Cunniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland said: “While figures in August are lower than the record months for wind earlier this year, it is in line with seasonal expectations and we are still on track for a strong performance from wind energy in 2022. 

“It is also important to note that the actual amount of electricity produced by wind last month was 4% up on August 2021 and helped to meet rising demand for electricity.

“Our latest report shows that even in months with lower output, wind energy still plays a crucial role in shielding customers from the worst of the fossil fuel-driven increases in wholesale electricity prices.”

Rising prices

The figures show that while wholesale electricity prices rose again last month due to high fossil-fuel costs there was still over €95 in the difference between the cost of electricity on the windiest and least windy days – €409.70 and €312.19 respectively. The average price for a megawatt-hour of electricity in August €387.63 which is the highest monthly figure so far this year.

 “The increases we are seeing in electricity prices are driven by the price of imported fossil-fuels and the uncertainty created by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Electricity generated from Irish wind energy replaces those imported fossil fuels and pushes the price downwards. The more wind we can get on the system, the less we have to rely on expensive imported gas and the more we can do to help households struggling with rising energy costs.”

The results of this report are based on EirGrid’s SCADA data compiled by MullanGrid and on market data provided by ElectroRoute. This is the eighth in what will be a continuing series of monthly reports from Wind Energy Ireland. This series will play an important role in progressing the development of wind energy as an energy source in Ireland.