Smart Grid Ireland 2024 Innovation Conference Speakers
Andrew Keane - Director - NexSys and UCD Energy Institute
Bob Barbour - CEO - Centre for Competitiveness
Brendan Kelly - Head of Commercial - Bord na Móna Renewable Energy
Brendan is the Head of Commercial at Bord Na Móna Renewable Energy and is responsible for developing commercial strategies and full commercialisation of Bord No Móna’s 2GW+ development pipeline. He is also leading the diversification strategy for the company specifically in the areas of Offshore Wind, Green Hydrogen, Power to X, and Flextech.
Brendan has over 13 years’ experience in the Utility and Energy sector. Prior to joining Bord Na Móna, Brendan held several senior management positions with Smart Wires, an Energy Technology company, based out of the Bay Area in California. At Smart Wires, Brendan was responsible for development of the EMEA business and subsequently led the company’s business expansion into the Canadian market. Brendan also previously held senior engineering roles at EirGrid, the Irish TSO, most notably leading the design of Grid Connections for over 2GW of wind generators and the initial tranche of Data Centres to the to the Irish system.
Brendan has an Electrical Engineering background having received his Bachelors and Masters degree in Electrical Engineering from University College Dublin.
Conall Bolger - CEO - Irish Solar Energy Association
Conall Bolger is the CEO of the Irish Solar Energy Association. He has nearly two decades of markets and policy experience working across the energy value chain from community and customer site projects to larger scale onshore and offshore wind development. He founded, led, and developed Cornwall Insight’s Irish operations. His international renewables experience includes Poland, Canada, and the UK.
David Rimmer - Microgrid Business Leader - Schneider Electric
Deirdre de Bhailís - Dingle Creativity & Innovation Hub
Diana Vaz - Renewable Research Technologist -
Diana has a strong mix of experience in applied research and consultancy in the area of renewable energy engineering and sustainability. In IMR she applies that experience on guiding companies on their path to decarbonization. Diana holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, with specialisation in Energy and Environment, and a postgraduate diploma in Circular Economy.
Professor Dirk Van Hertem - KU Leuven
Gerrit Jan Schaeffer - General Manager - EnergyVille
Dr. ir. Gerrit Jan Schaeffer (1966) got his education in Business Studies, Applied Physics and Philosophy of Science and Technology at the University of Twente in The Netherlands. After a career at the Energy research Center of the Netherlands (ECN) as a scientist and research manager he moved to the Flemish Institute for Technology Research (VITO) as Director Energy. In 2016 he became an entrepreneur as CEO at Dutch Solar Energy in the Netherlands. Since 1 June 2021 he got the position as General Manager of EnergyVille, the main sustainable energy research institute in Flanders, Belgium.
John O’Shea - Heat & Electricity Lead - Codema
John is the Heat & Electricity Lead for Codema – Dublin’s Not-for-Profit Energy Agency. He has extensive expertise in the areas of low-carbon heating, district energy, energy masterplanning, and policy development. He has worked on developing district heating & cooling networks across Ireland, Europe and the Middle East. He has acted as technical advisor on the development of a number publicly-led DHC networks in Dublin, including the innovative Tallaght DH network.
John is Ireland’s representative on International Energy Agency’s Technology Collaboration Programme on district heating and cooling. John has also led the development of the Dublin Region Energy Masterplan which analyses the cost-optimal pathway for decarbonising Dublin across electricity, heat and transport to 2030 and 2050. This spatially-led integrated energy model is the first of its kind in Ireland.
Marcos Byrne - Policy Manager - Wind Energy Ireland
Marcos Byrne is a Policy Manager with focus on Grids and Markets at Wind Energy Ireland. His current role with Wind Energy Ireland sees him working on policy development in markets and grids, working towards a net zero energy system for Ireland. Marcos comes from a background in innovative grid technologies with SuperNode where he worked on Markets Analysis and future market trends, product development for innovative superconducting cable solutions, and working towards policy changes for the future energy system. He also has experience developing renewable energy projects with Mainstream Renewable Power, where he gained experience in onshore wind, offshore wind, and solar. Marcos also worked developing a future 2050 energy model for Europe and forecasting future global electricity demand.
Mark McGranaghan - EPRI Fellow - EPRI Europe
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Peter Glover - NIE Networks
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Philip Cheasty - National Contact Point (NCP) for Horizon Europe Cluster 5 - Enterprise Ireland
Based in Enterprise Ireland, Philip is the National Contact Point Point (NCP) for Horizon Europe Cluster 5 - Energy, NCP for the Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission, NCP for Nuclear Fission and Fusion Energy and National Representative for the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking. Philip has extensive experience in European Framework Programmes and previously had responsibilities for FP7 (NMPB) and Horizon2020 (Energy).
Rob Silvester - Project Director - SSE plc
Rob is an energy professional with over 10 years experience in the sector, helping businesses and customers to decarbonise through dedicated leadership & rapid product development.
Steve Heinen - Director - EY Digital Grid
Areas of expertise: end-use analytics, customer behaviour, demand-side electrification (heat, transport) and integration of distributed energy resources into the energy systems.
Yvonne Murphy - CEO - Irish District Energy Association
