Power company Energia says it will be the biggest purchaser of wind energy in Ireland following a recent €72 million fundraising round which it is using to boost its own green generating capacity.

The company, part of the Viridian Group, which also owns and operates the Huntstown gas-fired plants in north Co Dublin, plans to grow its wind energy portfolio by 268 megawatts (MW) this year.

More than 240 MW of this capacity will come from 26 new wind farms being built in Ireland this year. Energia is buying the power through purchase deals done with the farms’ developers.

The target amounts to more than half the 400 MW of wind-generated electricity expected to be connected to the national grid this year.

One MW would supply electricity to 1,000 homes, according to an industry rule of thumb. Energia sells electricity to businesses and large organisations. Its parent, Viridian, recently completed the sale of Northern Ireland Electricity to State-owned ESB for €1.25 billion.