Irish Wind Energy Association

The IWEA has been in existence since 1993 with its offices currently located at Sycamore House, Millenium Park, Osberstown, Naas, Co.Kildare. IWEA Council consists of 26 members from a wide range of backgrounds. The Council is made up of elected and corporate members. The IWEA is entirely self-funding and relies on the support of its members.

Profile of Officers

Mr Paddy Teahon, President IWEA

Paddy Teahon is former Secretary General of the Department of An Taoiseach from 1993-2000. He is now President of the IWEA, Chairman of Eco Wind Power Ltd and consultant to a number of Irish and multinational companies.

Mr. Stephen Wheeler, Chairman IWEA

Stephen Wheeler, General Manager Ireland of Airtricity, the renewable energy development division of Scottish and Southern Energy, has been appointed Chairman of the Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA). Stephen has responsibility for Airtricity’s development and construction activities in the Irish and marine markets. Stephen joined Airtricity in 2004 and was made a company director in 2008. Stephen is a graduate of electrical engineering from UCD and came to Airtricity with over 10 years international experience after working with ABB and Siemens, specialising in the development and construction of thermal power generation projects.

Mr Tim Cowhig, Former Chairman IWEA

Tim is a Chartered Accountant, holds an honours Bachelor of Commerce degree from University College Cork and is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Tim has more than sixteen years commercial experience in many different roles culminating to date in his present role as CEO of the SWS Group with full responsibility for the day today operations of the Company. SWS is now strategically placed to become one of the leading players in Renewable Energy in this country.

Mr. Pat Brett, Vice chairman IWEA

Profile Pending

Mr. Jim O'Malley, Company Secretary IWEA

Jim O’Malley is a Chartered Engineer and founding director of ENTRAC, an energy consultancy. Prior to that he was Energy Officer for North West Ireland and has other experience as project engineer for Asahi, Sisk and Haden in UK. He currently works on developing small wind projects and is a director of IWEA.

Ms. Maureen De Pietro – Chair of the Policy Working Group

Maureen De Pietro is a graduate of Law of Manchester University and was a practicing solicitor from 1966-2000. In 1992, having become aware of the threats of global climate change and environmental degradation, she gave up her law firm partnership and become a sole practitioner to enable her to devote her time to promoting the use of renewable energy resources, particularly wind and biomass.She is a Director of D P Energy Ireland Ltd and has been actively involved in wind energy development since 1990. As a Director of a small company she has hands-on experience of complete project development from site sourcing and landowner negotiation through planning permission, grid connection, finance and construction, to power sales and operation.

Emmet Egan – Chair of the Public Affairs Committee

Emmet Egan received an Honours degree in Environmental Science from UCD in 1993 and after a lengthy stay in Germany returned to Ireland in 1998. Emmet has worked in the wind energy sector since mid 2003 on behalf of Coillte Teo (The Irish Forestry Board). In this period he has completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Renewable Energy Systems Technology at Loughborough University in Leicestershire and a Diploma in EIA / SEA Management at UCD. Emmet has been a member of the IWEA council since 2003.

Carmel Hynes - Chair of the Planning Committee

Carmel Hynes is a solicitor and a partner with the law firm Dillon Eustace. She is head of the firm’s Energy and Natural Resources team. The team advises utilities, operators, financiers and exploration companies in the wind energy, electricity and gas supply and oil and gas exploration areas. Carmel advises on a broad range of commercial property and construction law matters including site acquisition, land development, planning and environmental law matters. She specialises in the acquisition, development and financing of wind farm projects. Carmel has been a member of the IWEA Council since 2005 and is chair of the Association’s planning group.

Peter Harte - Chair of the Grid Committee

Peter has worked for the last6 years in the role of Grid Manager at SWS Energy, where he has overall responsibility for connecting SWS wind farms to the national grid. This involves him in planning permission and wayleaving work, grid construction contracts, contestable builds and grid compliance questions all requiring close interaction with the CER, NIAUR, ESB, Eirgrid and NIE and SONI. Peter also sits on the IWEA Council and chairs the IWEA Grid Committee. He completed a B.Eng in Mechanical Engineering from University of Limerick (1996).