‘Visionary’ wind industry veteran Eddie O’Connor dies aged 76

O’Connor founded several wind energy companies including Airtricity — now one of Ireland’s leading renewable energy suppliers — where he served as CEO for 20 years.

He then founded Mainstream Renewables in 2008, which develops renewable energy projects in emerging markets including South Africa, Chile, Australia and elsewhere.

Among the tributes was a statement from Ben Backwell, the CEO of the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), who wrote: “I am very sad to hear the news that Eddie O’Connor, a founder and pioneer of the global wind industry, has passed away. Eddie was a force of nature, who possessed an incredible vision that allowed him to see the potential and scope of the energy transition years ahead of others.”

O’Connor was awarded the European Wind Energy Association’s (now WindEurope’s) Poul La Cour award for outstanding achievements in the field of wind energy in 2014 and was made a GWEC ambassador in May 2016.

Mainstream, which was taken over by Norwegian investment firm Aker Horizons in 2021, said O’Connor was a “true visionary” who “inspired generations to think differently; to think of a planet electrified by renewable energy.” 

Following the success of Airtricity and Mainstream, O’Connor helped found the grid and transmission firm Supernode in 2018, where he served as a chairman. Supernode promotes the electrification of energy grids in tandem with a green transition to renewable sources of energy. 

The company’s CEO John Fitzgerald described O’Connor as a “rare and amazing person with great intelligence, vision, vitality, courage and resolve”, adding: “He was a swashbuckling pioneer and an irrepressible visionary, who inspired others to believe that change could happen and gave them confidence that they could make it happen.” 

Wind Energy Ireland meanwhile said in a statement: “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.”

Additional tributes to O’Connor came in from people outside of the wind industry.

Ireland’s climate and environment minister Eamon Ryan wrote on Twitter: “So saddened to hear of the death of Eddie O’Connor. He was a visionary and pioneer of the renewable energy industry here and across the wider world.”