Tributes to renewable energy 'visionary' Eddie O'Connor

After a career with ESB and Bord na Móna, where he was chief executive, the Roscommon native set up Airtricity in the 1990s and effectively kickstarted investments in Irish wind power

Eddie O'Connor promoted the idea of a trans-European energy supergrid. Picture: Jason Clarke

Leaders of business groups have hailed the achievements of serial entrepreneur and Irish renewable energy pioneer Eddie O'Connor whose death at the age of 76 was announced this weekend. 

After a career with ESB and Bord na Móna, where he was a former chief executive, Mr O'Connor went on to set up Airtricity in the 1990s and effectively kickstarted investments in wind power in Ireland.

Following the sale of Airtricity, he set up the international renewables giant, Mainstream Renewable Power, which in time was sold and helped realise €500m for Mr O'Connor. 

Ireland’s wind energy industry was 'built on the foundations' Eddie O'Connor and others laid in the 1990s. Picture: Dylan Vaughan

In recent years, the Co Roscommon native was involved in promoting SuperNode, a technology that he hoped would strengthen power grids carrying renewable energy across Europe. 

Danny McCoy, chief executive at business group Ibec, said Mr O'Connor's career was an inspiration for Irish business leaders and entrepreneurs. 

Eddie O'Connor was an inspiring business leader with a bold vision and the capacity to get things done, as demonstrated throughout his varied career, making him a prominent and successful renewable energy entrepreneur. 

"Above all else, Eddie was a visionary, as evidenced by his efforts in promoting the idea of a European supergrid," said Mr McCoy. 

Noel Cunniffe, chief executive of business group Wind Energy Ireland, said Mr O'Connor was among the business people who helped found the Irish renewables industry. 

Eddie O’Connor revolutionised how we produce and use energy in this country

"Ireland’s wind energy industry was built on the foundations he and others laid in the 1990s and their vision of a cleaner, more prosperous, energy future for all of us," Mr Cunniffe said.

“In recent years he has pioneered the idea of a trans-European supergrid, an electricity transmission system that can be the foundation of an energy-independent Europe, no longer reliant on imported fossil fuels, delivering warmer homes, cleaner air, and leading the response to the global climate emergency," he said, adding that Mr O'Connor had given "so much to our industry and to this country”.