Pace of Wind Farm Permit Approvals Slows in Ireland, Raising Concerns for 2030 Targets
Key Insights
Ireland's wind farm permit approvals significantly slowed in Q2 2025, with only 79 MW of new capacity approved by An Coimisiun Pleanala.
This deceleration, reported by Wind Energy Ireland, raises concerns about the nation's ability to achieve its ambitious 80% renewable electricity target by 2030.
Industry leaders attribute the slowdown to planning system bottlenecks, extended environmental assessments, and lengthy appeals processes, increasing project costs and deterring investment.
The permitting slowdown poses a risk to Ireland's energy security, potentially leading to higher electricity prices and increased reliance on fossil fuels.
Dublin, Ireland – The pace of wind farm permit approvals in Ireland has notably decelerated, with An Coimisiun Pleanala, the national planning authority, approving just two wind farms totaling 79 megawatts (MW) in the second quarter of 2025. This figure, reported by Wind Energy Ireland (WEI), marks a significant slowdown compared to previous periods and raises concerns about the nation's ability to meet its ambitious renewable energy targets.
The 79 MW capacity approved in Q2 2025 represents a substantial drop from the average quarterly approvals seen in recent years, which often exceeded 200 MW. This deceleration comes at a critical juncture for Ireland, which aims to achieve 80% renewable electricity by 2030, with a significant portion expected to come from onshore and offshore wind.
Noel Cunniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland, commented on the findings, stating, "While every approval is a step forward, the current rate of planning decisions is simply insufficient to deliver the scale of renewable energy infrastructure required. We need a planning system that can process applications efficiently and consistently to unlock Ireland's vast wind energy potential." He emphasized that delays in the permitting process not only push back project completion dates but also increase development costs, making projects less financially viable.
The two approved projects, located in counties Cork and Donegal, contribute to the national grid but fall far short of the pipeline necessary to maintain momentum. Industry analysts point to a combination of factors contributing to the slowdown, including increased complexity in environmental assessments, appeals processes, and resource constraints within the planning authority. The average time for a wind farm project to receive planning permission has reportedly extended to over four years, a duration that deters both domestic and international investors.
Ireland's grid operator, EirGrid, has consistently highlighted the need for substantial new generation capacity, particularly from renewables, to ensure grid stability and reduce reliance on fossil fuel imports. The current permitting bottleneck threatens to exacerbate this challenge, potentially leading to higher wholesale electricity prices and increased carbon emissions as conventional power plants are required to fill the generation gap.
Addressing this slowdown is paramount for Ireland's energy security and climate commitments. Industry stakeholders are calling for urgent reforms to the planning system, including increased staffing for An Coimisiun Pleanala, clearer guidelines for environmental impact assessments, and a more streamlined appeals process. Without such interventions, the country risks missing its 2030 targets and undermining its position as a leader in renewable energy development.