At the very first Wind Energy Ireland’s 2023 trade show, Kevin O’Donovan, Managing Director of Statkraft Ireland, and Senior Vice President at Statkraft, emphasized the pivotal role of local support in propelling Ireland towards its renewable energy ambitions. Despite Ireland’s commendable national commitments to renewable energy development, O’Donovan stressed the need for more substantial backing from local politicians.
O’Donovan expressed his optimism about Ireland as a prime location for Statkraft, citing the nation’s strong policy guidance and commitment to renewable energy. However, he underscored the current lack of champions at the local level. Drawing a noteworthy comparison with Scotland, O’Donovan highlighted how local councillors play a crucial role in driving sectoral growth, a dynamic yet to be fully realized in Ireland.
“We’re in 12 different markets, and Ireland is impressive with strong policy guidance. Politicians are saying the right things, but we’re not hearing enough champions at a local level,” O’Donovan remarked.
He pointed out that in Scotland, councillors actively contribute to the growth of the renewable sector by recognizing the broader benefits to the country. In contrast, O’Donovan noted a disparity in Ireland, urging government parties to address this issue responsibly. Local support, according to him, is imperative for Ireland to meet its renewable targets effectively.
O’Donovan observed a gap between the engagement of local residents and that of their elected representatives. While residents show significant interest and understanding of renewable projects, he argued that the political system needs to catch up.
“People at the doorstep are very clued in. People understand the link between energy prices and ask ‘what’s in it for us?’ and do also talk about the negatives of wind. People have moved on, and the political system needs to catch up,” he stated.
Statkraft, headquartered in Norway, stands as one of Europe’s largest renewable energy developers. Since entering the Irish market in 2018, the company has significantly expanded its business, boasting a pipeline of 4GW encompassing onshore, offshore, solar, battery, and grid services projects.
In a notable move attesting to its commitment, Statkraft acquired a portfolio of operational wind farms in August from The Renewables Infrastructure Group for €25m. The company continues to solidify its presence, recently inaugurating a new office in Cork Airport Business Park earlier this week.
The call for increased local support resonates as a key theme from WEI 2023, emphasizing the necessity for political advocacy at the grassroots level to align with Ireland’s ambitious renewable targets.
