Tuesday 6 September | 10.30am – 12.00pm

Join RenewableNI for a free seminar to mark the launch The Clean Revolution, our new offshore wind report.

This free event, sponsored by A&L Goodbody, brings together experts in offshore wind as Northern Ireland prepares to create a new section of the renewable electricity industry.

The Northern Ireland Energy Strategy committed to attracting ‘investment opportunities in offshore and marine developments in Northern Ireland waters’.  RenewableNI’s new report The Clean Revolution: Building Northern Ireland’s Offshore Wind Industry explores the economic and environmental benefits.

The session will be opened by Niamh Kenny, Chair of RenewableNI’s Offshore Wind working group, and Project Director for SBM Offshore‘s proposed 400MW North Channel Wind floating wind project.

John Tougher, Senior Associate, A&L Goodbody, will set out the opportunities and challenges of offshore wind.

Report authors BVG Associates will then present the key findings of the report and provide expert analysis and details.

Finally, there will be a question and answer session from the audience.

Refreshments will be provided before and after the seminar.

Printed copies of the report will be available at the launch and then available for free online.

Dr Alun Roberts, report co-author

Dr Alun Roberts,
Associate Director, PhD MSc

Alun Roberts leads projects for BVG Associates in supply chain and technology analysis and development. He brings to this a deep knowledge of offshore wind technologies, the structure of the supply chain, the requirements of the major players in the sector, and the development of global markets.

He has used this insight for several developers in recent years in helping them to develop their supply chain plans for the UK government , supporting smaller companies about the opportunities in the sector and analysing the market of different products and services.
A key area of work for him is helping clients understand the economic impacts of their investments through assessments of local content, gross value added (GVA) and jobs.

Alun joined BVGA in 2008 from Research Councils UK, where he headed external relations. Previously he worked as a specialist for the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee, where he project managed high profile inquiries on a range of political and technical issues.

Niamh Kenny, project manager for North Channel Wind

Niamh Kenny
Chair of RenewableNI Offshore working group
Project Director, North Channel Wind

Niamh Kenny is a leading expert in the renewable energy field. Commencing her career in community and regional development she became the CEO of rural development organization Blackwater Resource Development at just 26. She spearheaded a number of environmental initiatives while at Blackwater including the innovative ‘eco-village’ concept which the company went on to co-develop with Cork County Council.

She established consultancy firm Exodea Consulting in 2004 during which time she grew the research and innovation part of the business and began her work with renewable energy organisations and companies. She joined Irish renewable energy developer DP Energy in 2012, while there she gained experience in all elements of project development including greenfield development, project acquisition, joint ventures, conflict resolution, contract negotiations, leading financial close and asset operation in Ireland and abroad.

Niamh led the team which built a portfolio of 3GW of offshore wind in the Republic of Ireland, which is now being jointly developed by DP and Iberdrola. Niamh is currently Project Director with North Channel Wind, which has the potential for circa 400-500MW of floating offshore wind in Northern Ireland. The project is being developed in conjunction with SBM Offshore.

John Tougher

Senior Associate
A&L Goodbody