ENERCON, one of Europe’s largest suppliers of wind-energy turbines, has opened its new European sales headquarters in Santry, Dublin, and has created 22 new jobs.
Minister for Energy Pat Rabbitte, TD, was joined by ENERCON’s head of sales for northern Europe, Robin Borgert, and both launched the facility this morning. It will have sole responsibility for sales, project management, electrical engineering, logistics co-ordination and site assessment in Ireland.
The company has been active in Ireland since 1998 and during this time has generated more than 640 MW of clean electricity and installed 350 turbines in Ireland and Northern Ireland, the equivalent of every fourth turbine installed on the island.
ENERCON currently operates five service stations across the country, with 130 people currently working in the field of installation and servicing of wind turbines and operates factories in eight countries and has more than 17,000 employees worldwide.
Speaking at the opening, Borgert said the decision to locate in Dublin made the best business sense: “We believe in a decentralised service concept and providing all key services and contacts locally. And the office in Dublin allows us this close and direct contact to our local customers and business partners – in a great location with a highly motivated and qualified team. This is due to the very good market development for wind energy, making ENERCON the largest organisation of all wind turbine suppliers in Ireland.”
CEO of IDA Ireland was also present for the announcement and spoke positively about the clean-tech sector in Ireland: “Ireland is taking a lead in promoting the sustainable energy sector, maximising our wind energy potential in the rapidly developing clean-tech sector. ENERCON is one of the world’s leading wind turbine manufacturers; with over 30 years’ experience setting technological milestones in the renewable energy industry.”
However, the news coincides with a major industry blow in the wind energy sector after plans to build and export wind-generated electricity to the UK fell apart after long negotiations and has essentially ended any hopes of Ireland achieving its European 2020 target of 20pc of Ireland’s energy being created by renewable sources by that year.
