The trade association representing Ireland’s electrification industry has announced the appointment of Anna Conlan as the new head of Ireland Electrified and Helen O’Sullivan as its new chairperson.
Anna Conlan, left, is the new head of Ireland Electrified, while Helen O’Sullivan, right, is its new chairperson.
The organisation plans to launch Ireland’s first Electrification Action Plan at its conference next month, setting out new ways the country’s energy system can be electrified to ensure Irish families and businesses can increasingly turn to clean, efficient and affordable electricity.
Dependency on imported fossil fuels
The plan will be published shortly before the EU intends to bring forward its proposals to accelerate the electrification of the European economy, ending the continent’s dependency on imported fossil fuels.
Conlan said: “I am very much looking forward to working alongside the team at Ireland Electrified and our members to drive the delivery of a cleaner, more secure energy future for families and businesses across Ireland.
“Electrification is about more than just using clean electricity to power our businesses, homes and transport. It cuts bills, reduces our dependence on fossil fuels and creates good green jobs at home.
“As Ireland expands our renewable energy supply, it is essential that we have a clear roadmap for how that energy will be used. That is why we are working closely with our members to develop an Electrification Action Plan for Ireland and we look forward to launching it at our annual conference.”
Conlan joins Ireland Electrified having served as chief of staff and special adviser to Eamon Ryan in the previous government.
Her experience in leading a team of special advisors across eight government departments and delivering key strategic priorities for the Green party brings expertise that will help to drive the electrification of Ireland’s economy.
O’Sullivan said: “Ireland Electrified is a united voice for electrification across the energy sector and I am delighted to take on the role of chairperson as the organisation continues to grow.
Momentum
“More businesses are electrifying their heating and cooling processes. More families are choosing EVs. Our members are driving this momentum across the country and we are excited to welcome new members to help drive it even further.
“Together, we will continue to advocate for the policies, regulatory frameworks and infrastructure needed to support electrification and build Ireland’s clean energy future.”
O’Sullivan is chief operations officer with Flex Power Solutions and was recently appointed to the role of chairperson for Ireland Electrified.
With more than 20 years’ experience in manufacturing and project management, O’Sullivan founded Flex Power Solutions to focus on renewable-led heat electrification. She brings added insight to Ireland Electrified’s work to identify the policies, investment and infrastructure needed to rapidly scale up the use of clean electricity across all sectors.