Wind Energy Meets 50% of Irelands Weekend Electricity Demand

New Record Wind Peak Highlights Irish Renewable Energy Leadership in

advance of EU Climate Summit
22 October 2014 Blustery conditions and the impact of hurricane Gonzalo have seen Irelands
wind energy meeting approximately 50% of Irelands entire electricity demand between 6pm on
Friday and midnight on Sunday, and continuing on into Monday and Tuesday to fuel 40% of Irish
electricity demand according to the Irish Wind Energy Association.
Wind energy output hit a new record peak of 1,784MW at 18.45 on Friday the 17 October 2014
which is enough to power over 1.15 million Irish homes according to figures published by EirGrid,
who monitor electricity generation and usage nationally.

Commenting on the new Irish wind energy peak record, which comes in the lead up to EU talks on
how the EUs Climate Targets will look to 2030, IWEAs Chief Executive, Kenneth Matthews said:
Clean wind energy is delivering for Ireland, reducing our dependency on expensive foreign energy
imports, promoting investment and jobs, and helping protect our environment for future generations.
Its been a positive weekend and week from an energy perspective, whatever you were up to, its
good to think that an Irish, environmentally friendly energy source taken directly from the wind
sweeping over our country was meeting half of our electricity demand.
This is a vital week for climate change as EU Heads of State gather on Thursday and Friday to decide
our climate targets towards 2030. This record shows yet again that Ireland has a huge resource of
clean indigenous wind energy, and we are calling on An Taoiseach Enda Kenny to make sure that
there is a clear and ambitious renewable energy target as part of the EU discussions, which would
allow us to continue to harness this renewable natural resource and secure Irelands place as a global
green energy champion.
Ends

Editors Note:

New Irish Peak Wind Record of 1784MW reached at 18.45 on Friday 17 th October.
50% of demand met from wind covers the period from 18.00 on Friday 17 th October to
midnight on Sunday 19th October.
40% of demand from wind covers the period from Sunday 19th October midnight to Tuesday
21st October midnight.

All information sourced from the EirGrid Datacentre at:

www.eirgrid.com/operations/systemperformancedata/windgeneration/
For more information:

Ben Valdimarsson
ReputationInc
Tel: 01 4120512
Mob: 086 1735123

About IWEA
Established in 1993, the Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA) is the national body representing the
wind energy sector in Ireland. IWEA is committed to promoting the use of wind energy in Ireland and
beyond as an economically viable and environmentally sound alternative to conventional generation
and promotes awareness and understanding of wind power as the primary renewable energy resource.
IWEA is also dedicated to education and awareness building, and to building the skills base of the
renewable energy sector in Ireland. IWEA also supports the development of other renewable
technology, particularly marine energy. IWEA has more than 200 members who incorporate all leading
industry voices in Ireland. IWEA acts as a central point for information for its membership as well as
a voice to promote wind energy to government. IWEA is entirely self-funded and relies on the support
of its members.

For more information, please visit http://www.iwea.com