FAQs

Irish people support wind energy

The 2021 Interactions opinion poll found that 79 per cent of Irish people back wind energy. Confirming the popularity of Ireland’s main source of renewable energy, the poll found similar levels of support for wind energy from the national sample, and one composed entirely of people living in rural Ireland. Opposition to wind energy remains extremely low at only 6 per cent.

How do wind turbines work?

The blades of the turbine are connected to a generator housed in a box right behind the blades. The wind moves the blades and the generator turns it into electricity. The turbine is the device that converts energy from kinetic energy (energy produced by the wind moving the blades straight from the wind) into electricity.

How much electricity does a wind turbine generate?

The amount of electricity a turbine can generate depends on the type of turbine and the wind conditions at any time. Ireland’s largest wind farm is the Galway Wind Park in Connemara. The turbines there are 3 MW turbines. To use them as an example, when the wind is blowing steadily they can each generate 3 MW of electricity.

What are the main advantages of wind energy?

• Clean. The electricity produced by a wind turbine creates none of the carbon emissions that drive the climate emergency. While carbon is created through building, transporting and installing turbines, typically after 6-18 months the turbine has already saved more than was created from its production.

• Efficient. When you burn coal, oil or gas to create electricity a huge amount of energy is lost in the process. Wind energy, on the other hand, is 100% efficient at turning wind into electricity.

• Cheaper. Wind energy is cheaper than fossil fuels. Wind drives down the price of power by pushing expensive fossil fuel generators off the system.

• Renewable. Wind energy is renewable. It is a resource that we have plenty of here in Ireland. Right now, so much of the oil and gas that we burn to produce electricity is imported from other countries. The more we use wind to power our homes and businesses, the less we are reliant on importing expensive fossil fuels, and the closer we are to being 100% energy independent.

• Security of supply. As wind power capacity increases, grid operators gain more flexibility to balance supply and demand, ensuring a reliable and resilient energy system.

What are the main disadvantages of wind energy?

Wind does have a key disadvantage compared to fossil fuels. A gas, coal or oil generator can, assuming they have the fuel, be switched on at any time but a wind turbine only works if there is wind to turn the blades of the turbine. This means it is an ‘intermittent’ source of electricity.

This is why onshore wind energy, by itself, cannot replace fossil fuels. It needs to be part of a suite of renewable technologies like offshore wind, solar, hydropower, energy storage and green hydrogen. Used together, we can develop a 100 per cent renewable electricity system.

Can land beneath a turbine still be used for farming activity?

Yes, very little land is taken up by wind turbines. Farmers across Ireland continue to rear livestock and grow crops on the land where the wind turbine is located. There would be some disruption to farming activity during the construction of the wind farm but once it is operational then farming can continue as normal.