Magnified with Matt Cooper Eddie O'Connor Is Magnified
Feb 20, 2023
Eddie O'Connor, a visionary entrepreneur and renewable energy pioneer, shares his journey in transforming clean energy in Europe. He reflects on his environmental awakening in 1989 and discusses the challenges of sustainable planning in Ireland. Eddie reveals the concept of Supernode, a revolutionary supergrid aimed at stabilizing renewable power. He also addresses the threats posed by fossil fuel lobbying and highlights local economic opportunities tied to offshore wind projects. His commitment to combating climate change and promoting innovation shines through.
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Mission Born From One Conversation
- A single meeting about global warming in 1989 gave Eddie O'Connor a lifelong mission to remove CO2 from power generation.
- He applied his organisational skills to scale wind energy and create wealth from early mover advantage.
Wheeling Power Across Borders
- Eddie describes wheeling power across countries to blend wind with hydro and sell to Irish customers profitably.
- He says building wind farms, not selling electricity, generated the main profits and created enormous wealth.
Risk And The Civil Service Barrier
- Business decisions are made with limited information so taking risks is essential and inevitable.
- Eddie argues civil-service trusteeship mentality blocks necessary business risk-taking and agility.