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Tributes have poured in for Irish entrepreneur Eddie O’Connor, one of Europe’s leading renewable energy pioneers, who died this weekend at the age of 76.
Mr O’Connor, a former chief executive of Ireland’s national energy developer Bord na Móna, founded wind power developer Airtricity in 1997 and built it into one of Europe’s largest companies before selling it in 2008. The company has grown into one of the renewable energy development companies. He later co-founded Mainstream Renewable Power. The company established itself as one of the world’s leading renewable energy developers and subsequently co-founded grid technology company SuperNode in 2018.
Mr O’Connor, a former purchasing manager at energy supplier ESB, was Bordo na Móna’s chief executive for nine years from 1987, before joining the then nascent renewable energy industry in the late 1990s.
Following the sale of Airtricity to Scottish & Southern Energy for €2 billion in January 2008, Mr O’Connor became a key figure in the launch of mainstream renewable power, developing wind power across Europe, Latin America, Africa and Africa.・Builded a portfolio of solar assets. Asia Pacific region.
Norwegian company Aaker Horizons acquired a majority stake in the company in May 2021, and just a year later, Japanese multinational Mitsui & Co. became a long-term strategic investor.
Additionally, O’Connor and Mainstream collaborated on a supernode project to develop thin superconducting metals cooled with liquid nitrogen to distribute renewable electricity across the continent.
Mr O’Connor was also a leading proponent of the European “supergrid” initiative, which would provide offshore energy from northwest Europe and solar energy from around the Mediterranean across the continent.he co-authored Supergrid – Supersolution: The key to solving the energy crisis and decarbonizing Europe and irish times Environmental Science Editor Kevin O’Sullivan, March 2023.
Wind Energy Ireland chief executive Noel Cunniff said Mr O’Connor had “revolutionized” energy production and use in Ireland.
“Ireland’s wind energy industry has built on the foundations laid by him and others in the 1990s and their vision of a cleaner and more prosperous energy future for us all.” Stated.
“In recent years, he has pioneered the idea of a trans-European supergrid, an electricity transmission system that no longer relies on imported fossil fuels and could become the basis for an energy-free Europe, providing warm homes and clean air, and supporting leading to a global climate emergency.
“Making this idea a reality, working together to achieve energy independence and build a clean energy future is the best way to honor a man who has made so much of a contribution to our industry and this country.” Cunniff added.
Eamon Ryan, Ireland’s Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and Minister for Transport, said he was “absolutely saddened” to learn of Mr O’Connor’s death.
“He was undoubtedly a true pioneer in the development of wind energy in Ireland and around the world,” he said. “From his time as chief executive of Bord na Móna, to the creation of Airtricity and later mainstream renewable power and supernodes, he has always been years ahead of everyone else. I was thinking.
“More recently, he has been a passionate and clear advocate of a European supergrid, knowing that it would ensure that people across the continent enjoy clean and secure energy into the future.
“Few people will leave behind a legacy as positive and lasting as his.”
Supernode CEO John Fitzgerald paid tribute on the company’s website, saying that as CEO of Bord na Móna he built Ireland’s first commercial wind farm at Belacoric. He praised Mr O’Connor for creating Ireland’s first offshore wind farm in 2004.
“Eddie was a rare and remarkable man of great intellect, vision, energy, courage and determination,” Fitzgerald said. “He is known as one of Ireland’s great entrepreneurs and is leading the development of the global wind industry as the founder of Irish companies Airtricity, Mainstream Renewable Power and Supernode.
“But it’s not enough to call Eddie an entrepreneur. He was an adventurous pioneer and an irresistible visionary. He inspired others to see the potential for change. It inspired them to believe that there is, and it gave them confidence that they could make it happen.”
Mainstream Renewable Power said in a statement: “Eddie was a world-renowned entrepreneur and leader in renewable energy. A true visionary, he inspired generations to come. He inspired us to think differently and to think about a planet powered by renewable energy. A fearless pioneer, he relentlessly challenged the status quo and led the way. Lead the way and leave a clean path for others to follow.
“We honor Eddie by continuing what he started here in the mainstream with his unique sense of purpose, unwavering passion, and boundless energy. We will continue to see the effects for generations to come. Our deepest condolences.” I was with the O’Connor family at this time.
O’Connor is survived by his wife Hildegarde, daughter Leslie, and son Robert.
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