The Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA) has urged the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to target 70% for renewable energy by 2030.

This comes after a legal agreement was reached on an EU-wide target of 32 per cent for renewable energy by 2030.

IWEA welcomed the deal, calling on Minister Denis Naughten to outline Ireland's energy targets.

-- Advertisement --

Mr David Connolly, CEO of IWEA, said: "Last year wind energy alone provided more than 26 per cent of Ireland's electricity needs but we must continue investing in onshore wind energy, to grow our offshore portfolio and to support the development of other renewable energy technologies.

"If we do this, it is absolutely possible and more cost-effective to provide 70 per cent of our electricity from renewables by 2030 and we would urge Minister Denis Naughten to set this as Ireland's target.

"This can be done. But we need more leadership from the Government, a greater sense that the scale of the challenge – and the opportunity – before us is understood and the determination to meet it."

(CM/MH)