During this year’s Climate Week, we were thrilled to launch Energy West, a new collaborative initiative dedicated to pioneering a just and inclusive clean energy future, right here in the West of Ireland. Hosted at PorterShed in Galway, the launch brought together leading voices from community, science, business, and policy to kickstart a vital conversation about our region’s energy future.
Energy West is more than just a network; it’s a catalyst for change. The mission is to spark a just and inclusive energy transition by amplifying local voices, shaping bold policy, and unlocking our region’s immense power to lead in clean energy innovation. We believe that by bringing people, ideas, and influence together, we can empower communities, strengthen strategic planning, and build lasting energy resilience.
As chair, Dr James Glynn of Energy Systems Modelling Analytics Ltd (www.esma.ie), said at the launch, “Energy enables nearly half of our economic productivity and prosperity. Energy West is a catalyst to ignite ambition and long-term strategic planning in the West of Ireland… harnessing our region’s abundant clean energy to prosper within Earth’s limits.”
Why West? Why Now?
The West of Ireland is home to Europe’s strongest wind and wave resources, positioning us as a key leader in renewable generation. The challenge and opportunity lie in harnessing this potential to create not just clean energy, but also value-added activity, high-value, sustainable jobs and shared prosperity.
The approach is built on five core values:
A Convergence of Expertise
The launch event featured a dynamic panel discussion exploring the needs, value, and mission of Energy West from multiple perspectives16. Experts, including Dara Ó Maoildhia (People Centric), Alastair McKinstry (Data Driven), Pauline O’Reilly (Heat), Professor Rory Monaghan (Research), and Dr. Matt Kennedy (Industry), shared invaluable insights into everything from developing community-owned generation to using Digital Twins for modelling our net-zero transition.
The energy in the room was palpable, especially during the town hall discussion where attendees shared their ambitions, visions, and dreams for the West’s energy future.
What’s Next?
This is just the beginning. Our vision is for the West of Ireland to become a global beacon for clean energy, where innovation and policy align to create a fairer, more sustainable future for all.
As Yvonne Comer of PorterShed noted, “By anchoring this work in Galway, we’re laying the foundations for a new hub in renewables, one that can attract investment, support innovation, and deliver real value to communities across the region.”
We invite you to join us on this journey.
Learn more about our mission and get involved by visiting: https://portershed.com/energy-west/
Let’s build this future together.
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