Energia Group, one of Ireland’s leading renewable energy developers highlights the important role wind can play in a more sustainable energy future on Global Wind Day. Global Wind Day, established by WindEurope and the Global Wind Energy Council is a worldwide event that occurs on 15 June and raises awareness about the importance of wind energy and its significant contribution to combating climate change.
The Group owns and operates a portfolio of 15 wind farm sites with a total generation capacity of 309MW. That’s enough energy to meet the average annual electricity needs for almost a quarter of a million homes across the island of Ireland, accounting for 21% of Ireland’s total wind power capacity.
The Group are continuing to work towards their target to reduce the carbon intensity of their electricity generation by 50% and to increase by threefold their onshore renewable energy generation capacity by 2030, aligning to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, SDG 13: Climate Action and SDG 11: Infrastructure and Innovation. Their newly commissioned 50MW battery storage facility at Castlereagh in Belfast helps to stabilise the electricity grid during times of high renewable generation and in a first for the island of Ireland, Energia Group has installed a 1MW electrolyser at their Long Mountain Wind Farm to allow their turbines to produce green hydrogen. The Group is also progressing two offshore wind projects in the North Celtic Sea and the South Irish Sea with a combined capacity of 1600-1800MW.
Marking Global Wind Day, Peter Baillie, Managing Director of Energia Renewables said, “Wind is one of our most abundant natural resources, and wind energy is leading the reshaping of our energy systems, decarbonising our economies and boosting jobs and growth. Energia Group is delighted again to celebrate of Global Wind Day. By the end of this decade, we plan to generate three times as much renewable energy from onshore wind and solar projects, reduce the carbon intensity of our electricity generation by 50% and invest €3 billion in renewable technologies as part of our Positive Energy investment programme.”
Energia Group’s community benefit wind farm funds are well established and promote sustainability in the communities neighbouring their wind farms. Energia Group recognise that a just transition requires responsible development and last year invested over €750,000 through 8 wind farm community benefit funds, community sponsorships and Local Electricity Discount Schemes (LEDS) and to date have invested almost €4 million.
