Energy Ireland 2026 Conference Programme

Delivering Ireland’s energy transition in an uncertain world

Day 1 Wednesday 17th June 2026

08.15 REGISTRATION AND MORNING COFFEE

09.00 Chair's welcome and introduction:
  • Kevin O’Sullivan, Columnist
    Irish Times

09.05 IRELAND’S ENERGY FUTURE
  • MINISTERIAL ADDRESS: Ireland’s energy policy priorities
    Darragh O’Brien TD, Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment
  • MINISTERIAL ADDRESS: The path to net zero energy
    Caoimhe Archibald MLA, Minister for the Economy Northern Ireland
  • Delivering the transition to a low carbon grid
    Cathal Marley, Chief Executive
    EirGrid
  • Creating a cleaner energy future for Ireland
    William Walsh, Chief Executive
    Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland
  • Question & answer session / Panel discussion

11.00 COFFEE/ EXHIBITION NETWORKING BREAK

11.30 IRELAND’S ENERGY TRANSITION IN A FRACTURED WORLD
  • Energy geopolitics in a fractured world
    Andreas Goldthau, Director
    Willy Brandt School of Public Policy, University of Erfurt
  • Ireland’s energy transition over the past 30 years and the next 30 years
    Brian Ó Gallachóir, Associate Vice President of Sustainability and Director, Sustainability Institute
    University College Cork

PANEL DISCUSSION: IRELAND’S ENERGY TRANSITION IN A FRACTURED WORLD
  • Geraldine Heavey, Executive Director Enterprise Services, ESB
  • John Reilly, Head of Renewable Energy, BnM
  • David Kelly, Chief Executive Officer, Gas Networks Ireland
  • Maria Ryan, Director of Offshore Development SSE
  • Denis O’Sullivan, Director of Development, Centrica Power

13:00 LUNCH BREAK

14:00 MEETING THE CHALLENGES IN DELIVERING IRELAND’S ENERGY TRANSITION
  • CHAIR:
    Úna Nic Giolla Choille
  • Looking back on 30 years of Energy Ireland: Lessons for the future
    John FitzGerald, Adjunct Professor, Department of Economics
    TCD
  • Financing the energy transition
    Andreas F. Brandt, Partner
    Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners
  • A regulatory framework for a secure, decarbonised energy system
    Fergal Mulligan, Chairperson
    Commission for Regulation of Utilities
  • Legal aspects of implementing regulation and project delivery
    Niamh McGovern, Partner and Energy & Renewables Sector Lead
    Arthur Cox
  • The energy transition: from ambition to delivery
    James Delahunt, Partner, Head of Energy & Natural Resources
    KPMG
  • Question & answer session / Panel discussion

16.30 ENERGY IRELAND DRINKS RECEPTION

Day 2: Thursday 18th June 2026

08.30 REGISTRATION AND MORNING COFFEE

    09.00 Séischomhrá

    • Dave Kirwan, Country Chair
      Bord Gáis Energy and Managing Director Centrica Power

    • In dialogue with


    • Jude Webber, Ireland Correspondent
      Financial Times
    09:30 FUTURE OF ELECTRICITY I
    • CHAIR:
      Neil Walker, Director
      Walker Energy Consulting

    • Future proofing electricity grids: secure, efficient and resilient
      Sonya Twohig, Secretary-General
      ENTSO-E
    • Future grid: looking beyond the 2030 network plan
      Errol Close, Chief Corporate Services Officer
      EirGrid
    • A regulatory framework for developing Ireland’s offshore energy resources
      Laura Brien, CEO
      Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA)
    • Question & answer session / Panel discussion

    09:30 GAS MARKET AND NETWORKS
    • CHAIR:
      Úna Nic Giolla Choille

    • Outlook for gas markets in an uncertain world
      Lucy Field, Principal
      AFRY
    • Biomethane: Towards a carbon-neutral gas network
      Karen Doyle, Head of Business Development
      Gas Networks Ireland
    • Turning agricultural waste into renewable gas at scale
      Charles Kane, Chief Executive Officer
      Greengate Biogas
    • Pathways to renewable liquid gas
      Alan Farrell, Senior Director of Government Affairs and Policy
      Liquid Gas Ireland
    • Question & answer session / Panel discussion

    11.00 COFFEE/ EXHIBITION NETWORKING BREAK

    11:30 FUTURE OF ELECTRICITY II
    • CHAIR:
      Neil Walker, Director
      Walker Energy Consulting

    • Grid congestion: challenges for energy security and transitions
      Rena Kuwahata, Programme Lead Grid Modernisation and Electrification
      Agora Energiewende
    • Electricity market developments
      Richard Murphy, Partner
      Pinsent Masons
    • Regulating electricity markets and networks
      Jillian Ferris, Head of Networks
      Utility Regulator
    • Supporting the energy transition: modernising the grid
      Rhonda Doyle, Country President, Ireland
      Schnieder Electric
    • Question & answer session / Panel discussion

    11:30 SUSTAINABLE HEAT AND HEAT NETWORKS
    • CHAIR:
      Pauline O’Reilly, Chief Executive Officer
      Irish District Energy Association

    • Decarbonising Ireland’s heat demand
      Brian Carroll, Assistant Secretary
      Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment
    • Accelerating the deployment of thermal energy storage to support the grid
      John O’Shea, Heat & Electricity Lead
      Codema, Dublin's Energy Agency
    • Towards a sustainable, resilient and competitive heating sector by 2050
      Luca Neumann, Senior Policy Advisor
      Euroheat & Power
    • District Heating – from Concept to Construction
      Steve Smith, Principal Engineer and Head of Renewable Heat Team
      Natural Power
    • Question & answer session / Panel discussion

    13.15 LUNCH BREAK

      14.00 SECURING IRELAND’S ENERGY FUTURE
      • CHAIR:
        Catherine Sheridan, Commercial Strategy Director
        DNV Ireland
      • Key trends and issues facing the Irish energy sector over the next decade
        Paul Deane, Research Fellow
        University College Cork
      • The future strategy of the SEM to deliver Ireland's energy future
        Tanya Harrington, Commissioner,
        Commission for Regulation Of Utilities
      • Powering Ireland's energy revolution
        Jean Andrews, Head of Policy and Regulation
        BnM
      • Emerging technologies for the path to net zero
        John Walsh, Emerging Technology and R&D Manager
        ESB
      • Question & answer session / Panel discussion


      16.00 Energy Ireland Conference Close