Irish wind farms delivered record September output and supplied 37 per cent of national electricity demand, according to Wind Energy Ireland's latest monthly report. The surge in generation coincided with markedly cheaper power on the windiest days, underscoring wind's impact in easing costs for consumers and businesses.

Average wholesale electricity prices in September rose to €182.13 per megawatt-hour (MWh), driven by steadily increasing gas prices. However, when wind generation peaked, the average price dropped to €142.78/MWh. On days when the system leaned on imported gas, prices climbed to €226.51/MWh — almost 25 per cent above the monthly average and around 37 per cent higher than the windiest days.

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Total wind generation reached 1,256 gigawatt-hours (GWh) for the month, surpassing the previous September record of 1,128 GWh set last year — an 11 per cent increase. Across the first nine months of 2026, wind provided more than one third of Ireland’s electricity.

Noel Cunniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland, said: "Last month was the best September on record for wind energy with Irish wind farms supplying more than a third of our electricity. Wind and solar together met over 42 per cent of demand, helping to power homes and businesses with clean, home-grown energy."

He added: "Wholesale electricity prices were almost €84 lower on the days with the most wind energy compared with prices on the days when we had to rely on imported gas. This demonstrates the value of wind energy in reducing our exposure to imported fossil fuels and volatile international energy prices.

"But we need to build on this progress. Quicker grid connections, faster planning decisions and investment in energy storage will help us deliver more Irish renewable electricity and make better use of the energy we produce."

County-by-county figures show Kerry led September output with 131 GWh, ahead of Cork (102 GWh), Offaly (98 GWh), Mayo (89 GWh) and Galway (88 GWh).