2024

An Bord Pleanála approved a quarter of the wind energy needed in the first half of 2024 to reach climate targets

In the first half of 2024 An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission for four wind farms with a combined estimated capacity of 228 MW. Wind Energy Ireland estimates that, to achieve the 9,000 MW onshore wind energy by 2030 target in the Climate Action Plan, An Bord Pleanála would have needed to approve 860 MW since the start of the year.

The Board also rejected planning applications from eight wind farms with an estimated capacity of 459 MW, while 30 projects totalling 1,766 MW were awaiting decision at the end of Q2.

Only one new wind farm approved by An Bord Pleanála in Q3 2024

In quarter three of 2024 An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission to only a single new wind farm, around 13 per cent of the volume of wind energy needed to keep Ireland on track for the Government’s targets in the Climate Action Plan.

The Board also rejected planning applications from two wind farms with an estimated combined capacity of 95 MW, while 31 projects totalling 1,730 MW are awaiting decision at the end of Q3.

10 new wind farms approved by An Bord Pleanála in 2024

Intro text:In 2024 An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission for 10 new wind farms with a combined capacity of 717 MW. This is approximately 42 per cent of the volume of wind energy needed to keep Ireland on track for the Government’s targets in the Climate Action Plan.

2025

Record quarter for wind energy approvals from An Bord Pleanála

An Bord Pleanála approved seven wind energy projects in the first three months of 2025, with a combined capacity of 402 MW, and rejected none. This made it one of the board’s best quarters in recent years for renewable energy projects.