Wind energy provided 32% of Ireland's electricity in September, new figures show today, an increase of 25% on the same time last year.
In its latest monthly report, Wind Energy Ireland said that strong winds throughout the second half of last month delivered a third consecutive record-breaking month in wind power generation in Ireland.
July, August and now September all surpassed previous monthly records, it added.
The average wholesale price of electricity in Ireland per megawatt-hour last month was €111.62, a decrease of 60% from €283.25 in September last year.
The average wholesale price for days with the most wind power was €88.34, rising to €132.52 on days when the country relied almost entirely on fossil fuels.
Noel Cunniffe, the chief executive of Wind Energy Ireland, said that despite the 25% increase last month, the development of renewable energy, as well as the grid infrastructure and planning reform required to supply it, must accelerate.
Mr Cunniffe said the progress made on the Planning and Development Bill, as approved by Cabinet this week, has been widely welcomed but reforming the planning system will achieve little if the resources are not in place.
"Budget 2024 will be announced next week, and we are calling on the Government to make sure that An Bord Pleanála, the NPWS, MARA and local authorities involved in the environmental assessment of renewable energy will have the appropriate funds to hire sufficient expert staff to meet the demand on their services," he said.
"Without this vital investment, we will fail to grow the amount of indigenous energy we produce, fail to continue decreasing wholesale electricity prices and put at risk our ability to reach our legally binding climate targets," he added.
