Marie Donnelly took home the Champion of Renewables award at the second annual Irish Wind Energy Association awards on Friday night.
Donnelly (pictured), who is a former Director for Renewables, Energy Efficiency and Innovation at the Directorate General for Energy of the European Commission, said the recognition is a “real honour”.
“I appreciate the recognition that this award implies. And I think it’s an indication of where we are in Ireland with the energy transition,” she said.
“We have made great progress and we are now set to charge down the path of success here in Ireland.
“Renewable energy has come of age. The technology has matured and found its own place, costs have come down and efficiency is there. The reality of a carbon free system is in place.”
Donnelly was one of 12 winners at the bash, which was held in Clontarf Castle in Dublin and hosted by broadcaster Ivan Yates.
The award for ‘Wind Energy in the Community’ was presented to Galway Wind Park for an education programme which has funded 40 local students on their journey to third level.
An ‘Exemplary Health and Safety’ award was given to Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy a mental health initiative, which aims to have mental health first aid on a par with traditional first aid.
‘Best Project’ of the year was given to the Oweninny wind farm, a joint ESB-Bord na Móna project in Mayo.
IWEA chief executive David Connolly said: “Last year was a pivotal one for Irish wind energy. In the Climate Action Plan we have, for the first time, an all of Government vision for how we can decarbonise Ireland’s electricity system.
“Wind energy provided a record-breaking 33 per cent of Ireland’s electricity in 2019 which is one of the highest shares worldwide – in fact third just after Denmark and Uruguay. It is at the heart of the Climate Action Plan with targets set for 3.5 GW of offshore wind energy and to double our onshore wind generation capacity to more than 8 GW by 2030.
“We know our industry can deliver these targets. These awards celebrate the men and women working in the wind industry who will achieve them, who are making possible Ireland’s fight against climate change.”