Former CEO of Airtricity, Dr. O’Connor founded Mainstream Renewable Power in February of last year and during this time has created a significant pipeline of onshore and offshore wind farm projects in Europe, North America, South America and South Africa. Mainstream was also shortlisted for the “Entrepreneurial Developer of the Year” award at last night’s ceremony.
Dr. O’Connor is widely known for his personal commitment to bringing forward the wind power and the concept of the European Offshore Supergrid – a vision of electricity interconnectivity which has the power and scale to transform the outlook for European energy security. Large-scale grid interconnection has been adopted as EU energy policy, and a number of EU member States are looking closely at the concept as part of their efforts to meet the challenge of the 2020 and 2050 carbon reduction targets.
Commenting at the awards ceremony, Dr. O’Connor said, “I am both humbled and honoured to be recognised by my peers in this way. The world is going through a once-off transition to sustainability and we need more people with the vision and the commitment to look beyond the here and now. We’ve built this world of ours on fossil fuels and now we have to un-build it and completely revolutionise not only the way we generate our electricity but the way we deliver it to consumers. The European Offshore Supergrid has the potential to achieve energy independence for Europe as well as reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050. I am personally and wholeheartedly committed to realising this potential.”
Dr. O’Connor was named world energy policy leader by Scientific American magazine in 2003 and was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Science from University College Dublin in June 2008. He holds a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering and a Masters in Industrial Engineering and has a doctorate in Business Administration from the International Management Centres, Europe. He is Secretary of the European Wind Energy Association.
About Us
We know that we are facing one of the most crucial periods in the history of our planet.
We know that a sustainable future is no longer a choice. It’s an obligation.
And we know it is the countries and companies who can meet this challenge with innovation and imagination that will lead the way forward.
Our vision is of a future where economies can thrive, free from the restrictions of fossil fuels.
And we have the passion, the expertise and the resources to help make that vision a reality.
Our core business is the development, construction and operation of wind, solar thermal and ocean current plants.
But it is our approach that sets us apart. Our vision. Our passion. Our entrepreneurial spirit. And, most of all, our commitment to partnership.
We work closely with governments, development partners and investors. And while every project is different, our goal is always the same.
To deliver a successful business that accelerates global progress towards a sustainable future.
Mainstream was founded in 2008 by Dr. Eddie O’Connor and Fintan Whelan, the former CEO and Corporate Finance Manager of Airtricity.
Since February 2008 Mainstream has:
* Set up offices in Berlin, Chicago, Cape Town, Dublin, Glasgow, London, Santiago and Toronto.
* Identified and recruited some of the most talented and experienced teams in the industry.
* Established its board to include chairman, Fintan Drury, Sir Roy Gardner, former head of Centrica, Brendan Halligan of Sustainable Energy Ireland and Mark Brown of Barclays Capital.
* Raised €72 million in equity including €20 million from Barclays Capital in return for a 14.6% stake in the company.
* Identified potential partners in key markets.
* Raised €26 million in corporate mezzanine debt by private placement with Dolmen Stockbrokers.
* Announced the acquisition of a portfolio of wind farm projects in the State of Illinois (U.S.) with a potential capacity of 787MW.
