DP Energy co-founder Maureen De Pietro was recognised for almost 20 years as a leader in the Irish wind industry with the Champion of Renewables prize at the Irish Wind Awards.
De Pietro first commissioned a wind farm in 1994 and has since gone on to develop wind farms and other renewable technologies around the world.
She was also a founding member of Wind Energy Ireland, previously known as the Irish Wind Energy Association, and in receiving the award she was championed as "the Godmother of Renewables" and a trailblazer in the fight against climate change.
“I think we are beginning to win the fight against climate change, but I do worry it is too late. We must get more renewables; we must stop climate change. That’s what keeps me going,” De Pietro said as she accepted the award.
Ondine data specialists Eva Linehan was named Young Person of the Year, and Energia offshore environmental and consents manager Dr Caroline Roche won Person of the Year.
In Association with
Green Rebel won two awards, the New Market Entrant and Excellence in Project Delivery in recognition of the geophysical survey work it carried out on Energia Renewables’ North Celtic Sea offshore wind site.
"We were thrilled to win two out of the nine categories at the Irish Wind Industry Awards," said Kieran Ivers, CEO of Green Rebel.
"This is a reflection of what we are building here at Green Rebel and recognition of our outstanding team, who are consistently commended for their work by our stakeholders and demonstrate our value of Excellence as Standard."
FuturEnergy Ireland won the Wind Energy in the Community; H&MV Engineering was recognised for Exemplary Health & Safety Performance and Best Contractor; Mason Hayes & Curran won Leading Legal/Financial Consultancy of the Year, and the Kerry Education & Training Board won for Talent & Skills Development.
Noel Cunniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland, said: “It’s wonderful to be here tonight, surrounded by so many talented individuals who have committed their careers to tackling climate change.
"These awards are an important opportunity to celebrate the innovation and leadership within our growing industry. We need these attributes now more than ever, as we look to deliver our 2030 climate action targets.”
“Ireland’s climate action targets are among the most ambitious in the world, and the will is there in our industry to meet these targets. We now need to match this with the necessary infrastructure and planning resources, to ensure that we can deliver the volume of projects needed to reach our generation ambitions.”
Photo: Maureen De Pietro from DP Energy and Eva Linehan, Data Specialist, Ondine. Picture Conor McCabe Photography.
