Twenty new highly skilled jobs have been created in Dublin at Natural Power, an international renewable energy consultancy specialising in onshore wind, offshore wind, tidal energy, biomass, solar PV and hydro energy.
The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is supporting the investment through IDA Ireland.
Natural Power operates globally with offices in the UK, Europe and North America. Dublin represents the company’s first office in Ireland and 13th office internationally. The office will be based at Beacon Court in Sandyford, Dublin 18.
The Dublin office will focus on local and global construction projects. With more than 50 wind-farm projects completed to date across Europe and North America, Natural Power offers a complete and comprehensive range of construction management, technical advice, design and geotechnical support.
Ireland’s coastline offers an abundance of renewable energy potential
The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte said companies like Natural Power will be the lynchpin of Ireland’s emerging green economy.
“The Irish coastline has an abundance of renewable energy in the offshore wind sector and it is vital that we continue to appropriately exploit this natural resource to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels, which has a negative effect on our environment. Natural Power will support Ireland’s renewable energy strategy to deliver sustainable energy infrastructure to benefit the economy,” Rabbitte said.
Ralph Spernagel, construction director at Natural Power, said the Dublin office will provide high quality construction management and consultancy services to clients within the Irish renewable market.
“Within the team we have a large number of well-qualified Irish engineers who, as well as having local knowledge, have been developing their construction management skills within the buoyant UK renewable energy sector over the past number of years. It is a natural progression for us to relocate their skill set back to a reinvigorated market in Ireland.
“We will also be seeking to supplement our business with talented engineers that are available locally to the new office in Dublin. We are confident that Natural Power can provide valuable services to assist project developers and funders in taking their projects from initial consent right through to successful operation,” Spernagal said.
IDA chief executive Barry O’Leary said Ireland is taking a lead in promoting the sustainable energy sector, maximising its ocean energy potential in the rapidly developing clean-tech sector.
“Natural Power’s decision to establish an operation in Ireland will offer an alternative cleaner energy source to consumers. Ireland has the expertise to be a key world player in the development of the ocean-energy marketplace,” O’Leary said.
Wind farms image via Shutterstock