Third annual Irish Wind Awards

Press Release, Wind Energy Ireland

Third annual Irish Wind Awards – celebration of innovators and leaders in Ireland’s fight against climate change

A large audience of leaders in Ireland’s wind energy industry gathered in Clontarf Castle, Dublin last Friday to celebrate the industry’s achievements of the last 12 months. The awards, hosted by Wind Energy Ireland, recognised the passionate, committed and growing network of people determined to play their role in leading the fight against climate change.  

Award categories included a Young Person of the Year award winner, an Excellence in Training award for the many green jobs coming on stream, awards for community and education initiatives and the coveted Champion of Renewables award.

Noel Cunniffe, CEO, Wind Energy Ireland said: 

“I am proud to be part of an industry that is doing so much to tackle climate change. The quality of nominees and award-winners shows the wealth of talent we have in this space, a growing, passionate, committed and growing network of people determined to ensure that wind energy plays its role in leading the fight against climate change.  

“These awards provide a welcome opportunity to highlight the great work being done in the wind and renewable energy industry in Ireland. It shines a light on the innovation and leadership across all areas of wind farm development.”

• Winner of the Champion of Renewables Award went to Dr. Paul Deane. Paul is a Research Fellow at University College Cork and a senior researcher in clean energy futures with Science Foundation Ireland’s MaREI Centre in UCC. He has been involved in the energy industry for more than 15 years in both commercial and academic research.
  
  He was nominated for the award for passion for the industry and his research which has been critical in advising all stakeholders including the Irish Government on how to decarbonise the Irish energy system. In 2021, Paul led the work of UCC MaREI in authoring Our Climate Neutral Future: Zero by 50 which showed how to build a zero-carbon economy in Ireland. 

• The Overall Winner Award went to Energia’s Meenadreen Wind Farm in Co Donegal. The judges commended the company for its ‘exemplary practice in administering the community benefit fund’ - the company’s wind farm community benefit schemes contributed around €600,000 across 92 community groups in Ireland, benefiting an estimated 57,000 people.
  
  And following feedback from the community in Donegal a new bursary was established to provide third level tuition fees to local students who wish to focus on renewable energy and sustainability in their third level studies. 

• The Sustainable Development Award went to the Nature+Energy Project. The Nature+Energy project aims to maximise the benefits of biodiversity near onshore wind farms. The experts involved will develop ’natural capital accounts’ and a biodiversity action plan for the wind sector to facilitate nature-enhancement measures. 

• The Person of the Yead Award went to former Wind Energy Ireland CEO, Dr David Connolly.  During his four years with the organisation David transformed the association, leaving it a rapidly growing and increasingly powerful voice in Irish energy policy. His leadership was key to persuading Irish policymakers to adopt a 70 per cent renewable electricity target for 2030 and to support the development of on and offshore wind energy. 

• The Young Person of the Year award went to Energia’s Cian Brogan. Cian received the award open to rising stars in the industry under 30 years of age. He was described on the night as providing strong leadership for the industry not only in his work but also in his advocacy role for the next generation through presentations at university open days and his management of an academic graduate programme. 

Winner of the ‘Champion of Renewables Award’ Paul Deane, accepting his award, explains the importance of wind energy for Ireland.

“I’m so delighted to accept this award for my colleagues in MaREI. It is so important now to have independent voices in research. And to look to Ireland to play to our strengths to reduce our emissions it’s not just about climate issues anymore, it’s about social issues and as we have seen beyond our borders it’s now about very relevant security issues.”

List of shortlisted nominees and winners in each category:

1. Wind Energy in the Community Award
Sponsored by TNEI Ireland

SSE Renewables
Energia Renewables -  Meenadreen Extension (Winner)
Bord na Móna - Mountlucas

2. Excellence in Construction Award (Electrical and Civil)
Sponsored by Linxon

H&MV Engineering (Winner)
Statkraft

3. Excellence in Operation and Maintenance Award
Sponsored by Height for Hire

H&MV Engineering
Vestas (Winner)
Lagan Energy Engineering

4. Exemplary Health and Safety Performance Award
Sponsored by RWE Renewables Ireland

Adman Civil Projects (Winner)
EnergyPro
Greencoat Renewables

5. Excellence in Training & Development Award
Sponsored by Green Tech Skillnet

ElectroRoute (Winner)
Kerry Education and Training Board

6. Outstanding Innovation Award
Sponsored by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy

Innovision Media
LiveDiligence
Dublin Offshore (Winner)

7. Champion of Renewables Award
Sponsored by Bord na Móna

Paul Deane – UCC (Winner)
Seamus Hegarty - Energia Renewables
Kevin O'Donovan - Statkraft

8. Best Professional Practice Award
Sponsored by Vestas

Ionic Consulting (Winner)
MKO
Gavin & Doherty Geosolutions

9. Best Project Award
Sponsored by Matheson Law Firm

Capital Dynamics, Castlegore Wind Farm
Enerpower - Kepak
ESB - Grousemount Wind Farm (Winner)

10. Young Person of the Year Award
Sponsored by Greencoat Renewables

Sarah Hayes - Statkraft 
Hannah Mulcahy - Statkraft
Cian Brogan - Energia Renewable Generation (Winner)

11. Sustainable Development Award
Sponsored by Nordex Energy Ireland

Nature + Energy (Winner)
SSE Renewables

12. Overall Winner Award
Sponsored by  SSE Renewables

Energia Renewables Meenadreen Extension (Winner)

13. Person of the Yead Award

David Connolly (Winner)

14. Special Covid Award

Ronan O’Meara, EnergyPro (Winner)

Notes to editor: 

About Wind Energy Ireland

Wind Energy Ireland (WEI) is the representative body for the Irish wind industry, working to promote wind energy as an essential, economical and environmentally friendly part of the country’s low-carbon energy future.

As Ireland’s largest renewable energy organisation, WEI has more than 150 members who have come together to plan, build, operate and support the development of the country’s chief renewable energy resource.

As an all-Ireland body, WEI works in Northern Ireland through a partnership with RenewableUK, creating jobs, investing in communities, reducing our CO2 emissions, and working to end Ireland’s reliance on foreign fossil fuels.

Wind Energy Ireland are leaders in Ireland’s fight against climate change.