3037: How IDA Ireland is Supporting the Growth of Offshore Wind and Green Technologies

[00:00:03] How is Ireland positioning itself at the forefront of the global renewable energy revolution?

[00:00:11] What does this mean for the future of Offshore Wind and how are they leveraging technology to do this?

[00:00:17] Well today I'm going to be joined by Shorna Higgins and Tristan McCallum from IDA Ireland.

[00:00:23] And they're going to be shedding light on islands and vicious offshore wind ecosystem and its broader green economy initiatives.

[00:00:31] So I'll learn more about how Ireland is not just transitioning towards a sustainable future, but also creating a surplus of renewable energy that opens doors to new industries and new technological breakthroughs.

[00:00:43] Whether you are interested in the intersection of digital skills and green technology, all the investment opportunities arising from islands renewable goals.

[00:00:54] This conversation should provide some valuable insights into exactly how Ireland is leading the way in the energy transition, but enough seeing setting for me.

[00:01:03] All the Tech Atyme out to express my gratitude to everyone who supports my mission of delivering daily content to you in the 165 countries.

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[00:01:59] But with my thank yous out the way it's now time to jump right into today's interview with a fantastic guest.

[00:02:06] Let's get to today's guest on.

[00:02:08] So a massive warm welcome to the show.

[00:02:12] Can you tell everyone this thing a little about who you are and what you do?

[00:02:15] I good morning Neil and thanks for inviting us on your co-cast.

[00:02:19] And I'm Sean Higgins, I work with ID Ireland which is a state agency responsible for attracting foreign direct investment in Ireland.

[00:02:27] With the ultimate objective of creating jobs, I've been working in foreign direct investment and international trade for the past seven years.

[00:02:35] Prior to that I worked in the private sector in the engineering, manufacturing and machining industry.

[00:02:40] How my background is mechanical engineering.

[00:02:43] I'm based in London as part of IDA's overseas team, so IDR and then TUBNA work of 22 offices across the globe.

[00:02:52] I'm responsible for the engineering and green economy portfolio here in the UK.

[00:02:58] So as part of my role, I work closely with by growth large scale climate tech energy engineering and industrial companies to help them go by future projects.

[00:03:09] I want they might look like in Ireland and I also support our existing client companies to scale and grow their international operations.

[00:03:18] So for a presidential new investor, we would provide a tated information about the business environment in Ireland.

[00:03:24] We'd encourage companies to visit Ireland.

[00:03:26] I think that's so important as part of the journey.

[00:03:30] And IDA are on hand to provide the appropriate introductions whether that's an area of recruitment, finance, legal, tax.

[00:03:37] And we can also host meetings with some of the peer companies across Ireland to hear about their investment journey.

[00:03:44] I think it's a really important to also link in what universities, research centers that they can share their knowledge and a little bit of detail about what work is happening in Ireland.

[00:03:54] IDA also have a dedicated property in regional team who are incredibly experienced and supporting companies to find the right location, white building for an operation to be successful.

[00:04:04] We also work with our existing client companies I had mentioned on their future investment journey so that could be pitching for new global projects at the Irish size, expanding their footprint and also engaging in research and development activity on skills transformation programs.

[00:04:20] So hopefully that gives you a little bit of a flavor of which might be a work by do and I'm interested in my hand over to you now.

[00:04:25] Thank you, Shona.

[00:04:27] Hi Neil, it's great to be here today. So my name is Tristan McKellon and by my senior technologist Friday, I work in the engineering division which covers about 150 multinationals based in Ireland.

[00:04:39] We'll employ 225,000 people three courses at home are outside of Dublin and many of those jobs largely in manufacturing that's the central piece to the role.

[00:04:49] Like helping make sure we have high value jobs that are set for the future.

[00:04:53] So those 150 companies are across a diverse range of sectors that include all commosive, aerospace and space renewable energy systems.

[00:05:02] We're talking about today material side cell electronics and these companies and this citizens and wild every year and people and intellectual property and talents and infrastructure.

[00:05:11] So I'm also in the chemical engineer with 25x and years and advanced manufacturing and I start my career in filmable places building all sorts of strange things for films so cars robots, special make-ups rockets and aircrafts and over about 12 years there I saw a fundamental shift in the industry.

[00:05:31] A convergence of digital technologies, special effects through the printing and buds for the shooting and one of the first digital transformations that I was experienced like Korea.

[00:05:42] So the confession on Lot Irish that I came to Ireland is younger person and when I arrived I had to find a new career at some extent and that was scary and also exciting because it was all very new and when I arrived I was completely taken a back.

[00:05:55] By the range of opportunities that are in this country I named some of the sectors pretty good but to add to that was advanced medical devices which is where I went.

[00:06:04] I'm a technology pharmaceuticals and as a technologist, I'm a technical expert so I work with our client companies mainly on their research and development pipeline maximizing the impact of their investments over the next five to seven years.

[00:06:17] Nice at bookshorn and I support other executives on the technical components in the business they do with the companies we work with and finally I also supported the policy development team and both with several working groups that.

[00:06:29] Generate ideas that will help shape Irish enterprise into the future.

[00:06:33] Well, a big thank you to both of you for taking the time out your day to sit down with me and every day on this podcast I try to explore how technology is transforming everything from our worker businesses our lives and even entire world and that's one of the reasons.

[00:06:50] I invited you on the podcast today and we're here to talk about renewable energy across Ireland so can you tell me a little bit more about the importance of the energy transition in island a big talking point all around the world but I'd love to hone in and focus on what's happening in Ireland today.

[00:07:07] So ensure in the next 10 years about 310 billion euro will be spent on developing the offshore wind sector in Europe and that number might be slightly up might be a slightly up a slightly a dozen matter it's just an massive opportunity.

[00:07:23] It's more than 10 times the size of the market today Ireland is a great place to be based to address that market.

[00:07:30] So that half the costs of an offshore wind farm are in capital making the turbines and putting them to the water and maybe almost another are three eights are in the operation of maintenance of that park over returns year period and then there's a bit of costs of upfront development as well and decommissioning but if the energy transition is going to work in Ireland or in Europe.

[00:07:51] The energy produced by renewables has to be compared with fossil fuels otherwise the companies that invest in producing it like if they can't earn a but they've got no incentive to develop that infrastructure right and we actually saw that last year the last auction round in the UK strike flight vice and as low.

[00:08:09] No companies invested so what needs to happen is a way of bringing that cost to producing out renewable electricity down and the obvious way to do that is addressing the capital cost development manufacturing technology needed to reduce the cost of making it to buy that island is certainly too often there.

[00:08:24] So over the last 20 years we've seen turbine size scale in the early 90s though a 35 inches tall they nested up 500 times the driest part of the eagle now.

[00:08:35] What are the the iple tower there were tens of thousands of times and that produced 15 eagle so that's a huge ratio development it's a massive escalation of engineering and it's something the industry can be really proud of.

[00:08:46] But that development is driven by a really simple fact of the two buying the larger the sweat area of the blades and more electricity can harness and that nets works for the balance because.

[00:08:57] They get more power from a single turbine and buy and saw them cure two buttons they lower their cost of the planet there's a better return on their investment that's why we've seen huge development there.

[00:09:08] But that design miracle is coming across the engineering turbine designers completely outrun the engineering turbine manufacturer and there's a balance to be yet.

[00:09:18] There's been to get out how to make two binds bigger what needs to happen next is how to make those bigger two binds more efficiently to allow the OEMs and the developers.

[00:09:26] The profit margin they need to invest in production while at the same time produce a power at the cost point that suits the consumer and will actually drive the energy transition and island cancer part of the area.

[00:09:39] And out one third of the production bases in manufacturing that's really unusual in the country with islands and for no profile.

[00:09:46] There's a really good reason for that.

[00:09:48] A number of years ago I'll have made a decision to be outward looking on a investment there are an industrial policy that meets the formation of the idea idea stands for industrial development agency and the previous decades had seen the market increase.

[00:10:00] In the type in the scale and policy investments and certain secrets would seem to be about life sciences, senior conductors, waterloaded in aerospace offshore wind is going to be another sector.

[00:10:13] Two years ago our parent department that's the department of enterprise put together a white paper on how they plan for industry to develop out to 2030 that lays out a vision for islands into price activity to be fit for the long term in a net two things are called out.

[00:10:28] The decarbonisation and technical change the maintain islands can edit a proposition to continue to win new industry and new technologies we need to be able to offer sustainable basis for business.

[00:10:39] To be able to offer confidence of long term clean and expensive energy.

[00:10:43] The energy transition is key to Ireland, remaining a place for confidence continue to come to the ballot and new technology and borrow business.

[00:10:51] And it also represents a singular opportunity to build a new sector like the Stunther Medical Device and Barmer like the Stunther Solarculent to take and there's a lot of work going to make sure Ireland creates an environment when this land.

[00:11:03] To grow in scale offshore to access that 310 billion euro opportunity.

[00:11:09] Shorted to do having things with Britain, thanks, Tristan. I think sustainability strategy has gone from a nice to have to a lot of companies and it's now playing a central role in future strategies.

[00:11:23] So over 1800 client companies we've been working with them to develop climate action plans and they can go on to support the adoption and adoption of carbon reduction renewable technologies.

[00:11:35] But sustainability has become a central priority for all investors in companies in Ireland and right across all of Europe.

[00:11:43] To have our 100 largest clients 70% of them have now made net zero pleasures and commitment system sustainability can start from simple things like lighting upgrades improving building management systems the whole way through to implementing renewable technology.

[00:12:00] And in some cases is tackling those early wins like early efficiency improvements that will allow them to invest in future larger carbon reduction programs.

[00:12:10] And like the appetite has certainly there I read I think is a P.W.C. survey that was done not too long ago and I think they had over 90% of our space CEOs were committed to making significant progress on this space so the output is really there.

[00:12:25] And idea supporting companies each step of the way we have dedicated team who is supporting on decarbonization journeys areas in renewable energy growth screen manufacturing certain age to talk about the life sciences industry as Tristan mentioned on you know it's really clear that ultra wind is going to play a big role in this space in the future.

[00:12:50] One team in pink lives like Johnson and Johnson they're in Ireland for over 70 years before sites and about their medical devices on their farm a traditions and then playing 35 thousand people.

[00:13:02] But it's been really interesting to see so over the last decade stayed invested more than 60 million and I believe 80 different carbon footprint reduction products on one of those is onsite wind turbines so Jay and Jay are getting a 100% to the power for its four amount of action sites.

[00:13:19] From on trove in generation and that's an off-take from wind farm in carry and another in clear.

[00:13:26] And actually mentioning carry Japanese pharmaceutical company as Dallas there getting I believe just over 60% renewable generation on their sites and they also use biomass so if you choose bright she can see some of these leaders already adopting these renewable technologies in their transition.

[00:13:44] And the world has changed so much in the last five years and I think attitudes have also changed towards our energy use sustainability with seeing introduction of ESG scores etc.

[00:13:54] And finally the pace of technological change is just moving faster than ever so I'm curious over the last five years what have you seen change in islands offshore windy coast system and what has happened recently that has got you maybe excited about the future as the pace of technology ramps up to.

[00:14:13] Well plus like I can really read I think the potential of offshore wind on what that offers us as a country and other element is I think we're welcoming us and welcome into significant role that all shore wind can play in Ireland's sustainability story.

[00:14:29] So Ireland has a maritime area of more than 10 times the size of the land mass so we put that in context that's one of the largest marine areas in the EU.

[00:14:40] And by deploying advanced offshore technologies the benefits of islands coast to landscape can be heightened so our lens actually made up of relatively shallow sea beds.

[00:14:50] So that's a perfect environment for placement of fixed bottom turbines and then if you look for a relation in the tech landscape the deep waters further off Ireland's coast are well suited for.

[00:15:03] So there's really an interesting position for Ireland to run the access to potential wind energy development and deployment.

[00:15:15] So if you put into context that size the opportunity in Europe I believe this nearly over 300 tios and people working in the wind energy industry in Europe.

[00:15:23] So 75% I think that is on shore land the rest 25% in offshore and the industry itself has a turnover of 60 billion and that can be seen back into the economy by about 65% of us back in an added value.

[00:15:40] So if we look at Ireland where we are today were 300 wind farms which is generation close to 4.8 g of lots of clean energy.

[00:15:50] So if you look at that for wind insult power per capita that's about putting us third in the world.

[00:15:56] So this comes off the back of a number of significant steps towards delivering offshore wind energy over the last year and three things come to mind.

[00:16:06] So the first of this is our first successful offshore wind auction and that happened back in May 2023 where contracts were awarded to four offshore wind projects and they had a combined capacity of three gigawatts.

[00:16:21] We've also established maritime area regulatory authority. There was publication of our first draft of the designated maritime area for the site coast as well as the future framework of offshore wind renewable energy.

[00:16:37] So together, the set of road map for high-arond and can create an offshore renewable energy sector of scale to achieve our climate and energy targets beyond 2030.

[00:16:47] Am I hand over to Tristan now? Tristan, do you think our start?

[00:16:51] Thanks, sure. Yeah, well if I was to add one thing, now that this is happening, the Irish should come and vote. So I almost do one of the first countries in Europe took two binds all the water.

[00:17:01] There are a lot of folks in Ireland who went on to build really successful careers and offshore wind in other countries.

[00:17:07] They're being there for a couple of decades, right? And they've been developing global businesses and now that this industry is really ramping up in Ireland.

[00:17:16] They're bringing that knowledge in business. And that's really exciting.

[00:17:18] And a little of how at the idea, your leveraging technologies to improve, to innovate and initiate new ideas that genuinely make a real difference to our world.

[00:17:30] Everybody listening, especially our international listeners, sure no, would you think makes Ireland so attractive for international offshore wind players and indeed their partners?

[00:17:40] Well, Niel, I think we always hear as Ireland is a great place to do business.

[00:17:45] Yeah.

[00:17:45] And because a company evaluating Ireland is a location kind of three things, always come back and comment my end is track records, talent and the ease of doing business.

[00:17:55] And that can be seen just from the clients that are there like we have 1800 client companies in the idea portfolio.

[00:18:02] And roughly 30% of those companies have been in Ireland for at least 10 years.

[00:18:07] We actually have a number of clients for celebrating 40, 50, 60 years of being established in Ireland.

[00:18:13] So there are long Japanese been key to that.

[00:18:16] A good example will be either we've been operating and in carry from their size there since the 1950s.

[00:18:23] And the ever container crayons are used in over 100 ports and in 50 plus countries worldwide, so just shows you the global reach that can happen and how that size plays such an important role.

[00:18:35] When you look at some of the investments we've seen in the renewable space, Scottish company SSE, even in Ireland for a number of years employing over 900 people.

[00:18:44] But they own an operation, a lot of low carbon infrastructure in the onshore and offshore space.

[00:18:51] And they've recently shown interesting partnerships so they've partnered with board and the Mona to develop some onshore wind projects across the midlands.

[00:18:59] And the JV partnership is planning to invest nearly one billion to develop eight under mega watts of new energy projects.

[00:19:06] So when you look at the on terms of homes, that's potential power to 500,000 homes.

[00:19:11] So it's really interesting to see how companies can be developing in Ireland from your early stage development to then working with partnerships and going new technologies.

[00:19:21] And another company that's just a Danish company they're one of the largest wind turbine manufacturers.

[00:19:26] They've been Northern for more than 30 years.

[00:19:28] And they've had about a hundred people operating in Dublin. They've got service homes around the country.

[00:19:34] Another interesting one is Cario generation, so they're a specialist in offshore wind and they're an arm of McQuarry asset management.

[00:19:42] And they're developing the skater rocks offshore wind farm both the coast of Canamaara in the west of Ireland.

[00:19:48] And you've got companies that can have global reaches from Ireland.

[00:19:52] So one that comes to mind is GDG and their part of Entera Group.

[00:19:57] And they provide global services to the offshore wind industry.

[00:20:01] So their central engineering hub is based out of two sites in Dublin and Cork.

[00:20:07] And they serve global markets from there across the Americas, Asia Park across Europe and they successfully deliver that from Ireland.

[00:20:16] I think another element as well, Ireland has been fortunate enough to be ranked first in terms of attracting and retaining talent.

[00:20:25] The flexibility and adaptability of the work for us.

[00:20:28] And as those when I speak with companies after they visited Ireland, the first thing they come back with is the home press they are with the talent, the people, the skills.

[00:20:38] And I think that's on the back of some of the points, trust and mention earlier, but there's been a significant focus on education on skills.

[00:20:47] And that continues today and is particularly across the key sectors, life sciences, financial services, advanced engineering, technology, business.

[00:20:55] And on the offshore wind side, Ireland's benefits from some top level training centers.

[00:21:02] One is Air Girls Training Center at I was one of the first global wind safety centers accredited in Ireland.

[00:21:10] And though there is the National Maritime College, they've recently invested nearly 16 million in their training facilities.

[00:21:16] And this is placing it as a top tier center of excellence in Europe, unleading the way.

[00:21:21] So it's clear that the track record these are doing business and the talent is why Ireland is a great place to do business.

[00:21:29] And one of the things that really stands out for me, and I personally find really exciting, you've seen policy makers across Ireland are taking an active part in developing legislation,

[00:21:39] and really renewable energy goals. And trust it, can you expand on this and what you're seeing here? Because for the outside looking at me, feels incredibly exciting, what's happening here.

[00:21:48] So I'll serious about developing offshore wind for the long term.

[00:21:53] It's goal is a clear, so by 20CC, you will be five gigawatts of ongrid offshore wind development with the further two gigawatts under development support industry.

[00:22:03] And by most marks, that would be enough to decarbonise existing industry and have some headroom for the future.

[00:22:09] But Ireland's excellent offshore wind is resource, right? It's an opportunity.

[00:22:13] So the plan is to use that resource to generate a significant excess to attract future industry.

[00:22:19] And to use that market, that offshore wind activity that comes along to put those two binds in the water,

[00:22:27] along with Ireland's engineering talent and track record and business, to attract really high value offshore and operations to make Ireland based to address that wider European or even the global market.

[00:22:37] It's a lot of sort being put into that. Not many countries in a position to scale out a positive energy balance in the same way Ireland came.

[00:22:46] Historically industrial activities always being fundamentally tied to energy, right?

[00:22:51] Ireland's going to have an excess, so it's got a goal of 20 gigawatts, I think by 2040 and maybe 37 gigawatts, by 2050. Those states aren't too far away when you look at the timelines these projects work to.

[00:23:02] The order that is going to be in a complete restructuring of the energy supply. To make the most of that opportunity, the needs and there is a bit of work going on with policy makers is to do to make sure that the grid build out is coordinated with offshore wind development.

[00:23:17] That offshore wind development is managed in such a way to minimize development risk and to minimize environmental impact.

[00:23:25] And that along the way we're not missing opportunities to develop the new green economy.

[00:23:30] So, for me, aside from the targets, which are all about making sure we can offer an excess of clean energy, the most important policy parts that we've seen lately. The future framework, that's sure they're making previously, net outlines the planning leader approach that will be taking developing the offshore wind resource.

[00:23:46] This shaping our offshore energy future from the agreement outlines the plan by the National Transmission Operator, here the transmission system for offshore wind and there's power and prosperity. The National Industrial Strategy for offshore wind.

[00:24:01] So, with the first of those three pieces, what is the future framework? Well, short of mention that Ireland has decided to use a planning leader approach in last year from the marine area regulatory authority on Mara.

[00:24:12] So Mara identifies which parts of the sea beared around Ireland are going to be developed next six a schedule and defines specific volumes of generation capacity, which can be auctioned off at specific endables. This is all administered out at the Department of Environment, I've changed so.

[00:24:28] I think we sure want to mention that 3.1 gear watt noxials are being awarded already the next round will be in a designated marine area off the southwest coast. Why there is room on the grid?

[00:24:41] This plenty of room for development on the sea beared and there is industrial demand by identifying this area.

[00:24:49] Development companies know where to look on the sea beared, they don't have to spread their bits developing but the sea bearer all around Ireland that won't be capitalised on in the near future industry knows where to invest in order to maximize return.

[00:25:02] So let's say now that it's been defined there might be 10 gigawattable elements in the next 10 years in the southeast, so that's now a sufficient pipeline for an OEM, a turbine manufacturer to consider putting in a significant manufacturing centre.

[00:25:16] The blade factory or a power as in powertrain assembly and testing point, all of that gives the local infrastructure like boards, the confidence to be able to do what they need to do to support their investment to build out their infrastructure in time support this activity.

[00:25:30] And finally, it's significantly that future framework also opens a conversation on private wire being able to see energy at scale, large energy users without necessarily using the grid system and this opens up some really interesting opportunities for new modes of business new technologies and decarbonisation of industry in Ireland.

[00:25:51] So the second piece I mentioned, shaping our institute shows it's about the grid and why is the grid important? Well, to take a broader view for a second, right like up until now maybe not recently but for the last whatever like 1890 years we've got a very used to dispatchable power.

[00:26:08] How we get from turning a generator on it's regular is constant and it can easily dial up and down the small bit as required.

[00:26:15] And that's really important because it means historically all of the equipment our grid is designed with assumes that power on the grid is more or less going to be predictable, think it may land up with the mud.

[00:26:26] That's not the case with them that wouldn't be energy and I'm actually done a bit of work in the space or any already. We call wind energy and other renewable energy non synchronous it's not despatiable sometimes when blows a lot.

[00:26:38] Sometimes it blows a little bit this being idle is always blowing somewhere but the different that sometimes is too much or not enough power on the grid at a given instant and that means transmission systems as they are now they could break.

[00:26:51] Well they wouldn't be able to deliver the power where it's actually needed and so there's the media need to build out this grid capacity.

[00:26:58] Incordination with the development of the offshore energies by and so yeah, Greg the own transmission system and I was going to invest about 5 billion out to 2030 to make sure that happens.

[00:27:08] And I should mention like and as Sean has already covered island does have experience in running non synchronous power with or in a half gigawatt of onshore wind but they're literally doubling down on this for offshore out 2030.

[00:27:22] The building offshore substations, repurposing existing systems that were previously dedicated to gas by generation.

[00:27:28] The making sure that offshore in your business will be correct and it to directly to industry consumers where it's needed most.

[00:27:36] And finally there's power and prosperity which was the title of the industrial strategy for offshore wind and that's out of the Department of Enterprise.

[00:27:44] So 100% of islands offshore wind could be built and deployed from abroad.

[00:27:50] In this document outlines the plan to make sure that is not going to be the case. The stock here later that a plan that incentivizes innovation.

[00:27:58] It brings home the Irish expertise that has been developed in foreign markets.

[00:28:02] It lays out the plan for building industry forums if the knowledge sharing and clustering.

[00:28:07] Outlines the existing and future resources for research and development the research needed to develop the technology that will let turbine manufacturing catch up with turbine design to make two bones.

[00:28:19] Lifts expensively that will allow our aims to make the next generation of turbines at a cost point that will let them make a fair profit and also allow a competitive price for a newable cow.

[00:28:31] And finally the strategy identifies three offshore pilot sites in a new hundreds of megawatts the need for three offshore pilot sites.

[00:28:41] And a dedicated industry central.

[00:28:44] So it's that will act as a hub for new research industry development and schools.

[00:28:48] It makes offshore wind the top most priority from industrial development and it does that because offshore wind.

[00:28:55] Hattens on the edges of the country.

[00:28:57] It puts jobs and regions and intounds where otherwise they're hard to come by.

[00:29:02] And listening to you there I think the standout staff for me is the fact that island is aiming to be one of the few nations in the world with excess renewable energy capacity by 2030 incredible goal there and.

[00:29:16] So it's what opportunities do you think will arise from these goals too because it goes much deeper than that single year ago doesn't.

[00:29:24] It does an idea we're always looking at the areas are growth.

[00:29:30] The two here is that we see it's the twin transition digital and green and wind and also wind are certainly a key component of us.

[00:29:38] So the ability to generate renewable clean green energy prior by wind it just presents so many opportunities particularly to be able to provide cheaper energy.

[00:29:50] And you hope that this is going to feel new innovations new technology deployment whether that's new types of energy storage solutions using hydrogen for some of the large scale industrial users.

[00:30:01] I think another thing to consider as well is by 2030 will be in a very digitally enabled world so this presents new opportunities in areas of AI on to send me conductor advanced manufacturing.

[00:30:15] So having an excess renewable energy it's going to definitely spur on a revolution but we based on sustainability and green energy and trust him I would you like to share it a little bit more on your views on this.

[00:30:27] Absolutely well I mean I can offer an example that you want so heavy industries always followed energy right so like all allowed the industrial revolution and the heavy industry of the future today actually is digital.

[00:30:41] The nice example of that is what we see happening in the mobility sector in islands so it used to be all the most of manufacturing that that paradigm is changing actually has changed from making new physical vehicle to making a software defined vehicle software defined platform of vehicle.

[00:31:00] Defined by the smart and increasingly intelligent software on it so.

[00:31:06] Islanders home to several household names in order to measure them they're here for our software skills and all of this relies on data their offerings what they're developing rely on data data skin to the zer energy hungry.

[00:31:18] In the data centers of the future the AI data centers are going to require somewhere between 10 and 30 times as much energy as those of today.

[00:31:28] So the data these companies these automotive companies used to teach their models that other basis that they're offering is absolutely central to their own intellectual property so the mechanics of how it's fit to the model how suggested how they models train how it's control.

[00:31:43] All of this is made so much easier for those companies operating on if their engineers can be cited really data centers are so having clean power available in Ireland.

[00:31:54] Makes it that much easier to secure the critical infrastructure that will then allow island to continue to develop the residents artificial intelligent engineers and for the automotive industry training day soon developing those fundamental models it's also well aligned to our existing skill sets.

[00:32:10] In just ending the available that are and islanders gone to what it has to do so much more with our side base.

[00:32:16] I think that's a powerful moment to end on a kind of thank you both enough for taking the time and sit down and talk about the real difference that technology is making here and the real world impact release having but we don't just solve real world problems on this podcast we take I also try.

[00:32:32] I have a little fun with my guess so I've got a few quick fire questions for you first of all.

[00:32:37] Tristan I always ask my guests to ask if they've got a song that means something to them we can add to the tech talk daily music playlist on spot if I get what it pleasures are allowed no judgment so what's on would you like to add and what.

[00:32:52] I've got one so going back a while when I first arrived in Ireland I mentioned it was a shift to my career it was scary I wasn't sure right so I joined a great company different city to where my wife was I was expecting a son must part of it small team.

[00:33:07] Developing a really novel technology right and there's a lot of working late is a lot of being lonely.

[00:33:12] A lot of stuff happening in the background like we're trying to buy a house and so we're very uncertain right and at night when I was working late by myself I used to put on a song.

[00:33:21] And it was the same one and I just get a sense that maybe it would be okay or the stuff that I hadn't done before not overwhelming release or anything like that just like some long since it was all going to work out and it did.

[00:33:32] And maybe that I thought so that song is called Heal the Lightning and it's by an artist called Dan Deacon and the album he released it on his bliss river.

[00:33:44] Wow what a great choice that he's supposed to be brilliant live as well. Have you ever seen him live for.

[00:33:48] Yeah, every time he comes to Ireland it is for anyone who hasn't been to a Dan Deacon concert go over and dance with your eyes closed because.

[00:33:58] Oh, I'm going to put that on my book it list. I'm going to do just that and sure and I think for most people listening at the moment we're talking about the pace of technological change it can feel overwhelming this is constant pressure on everyone to be in a state of continuous learning so.

[00:34:14] I'm curious where or how do you self educate other any tips or advice or just ways that you find that a little easier ways of doing just that.

[00:34:24] I think the I'm fortunate enough in the work that we do it's constantly challenging me.

[00:34:29] Yes, you work well so many different types of companies they're developing incredible new novel technology.

[00:34:34] So I think that forces me to keep my finger on the pulse. I learned a lot to kind of news white papers. I listened to a lot of podcasts including your own, but I think a lot of my learning comes through some of the inspirational people.

[00:34:47] I got to me just part of this job.

[00:34:48] I have the fortune of position to engage with some of the top companies in the UK colleagues around the world got to do the same and.

[00:34:56] I don't think you could ever walk away from me sharing with us learning something become more inclusive about something.

[00:35:03] And I think that really feels my longer. I'm naturally incredibly curious and I think that makes self educating quite easy, but I think it's important to learn from your clients.

[00:35:11] It's important to learn from your colleagues and their adaption experience, your family, your friends.

[00:35:17] I think there's a huge amount of knowledge amongst us and it's so important for us to share us to keep curious and learn through each other.

[00:35:27] Oh, absolutely little flat. I think we get carried away sometimes talking about the technology and the shiny things that we can do and I think it is being inquisitive being curious learning from every single person we may absolutely love that.

[00:35:40] But anyone listening just want to find out more information about the work that you're doing, maybe want to contact your team.

[00:35:48] Is there anywhere in particular you would like to point them?

[00:35:51] Of course. So I'm always welcome to have any reach out through our LinkedIn. So I appreciate you sharing this but any information to be found on ida can be found at ww.edu.

[00:36:32] In a economy initiative sustainable development digital skills required in offshore wind manufacturing surplus capacity investment opportunity reasons so much more so sure and

[00:36:43] Interesting. Thanks so much for your time and sharing your stories to that.

[00:36:48] Thanks so much Neil. It's been a pleasure. Thank you. Thank you so much Neil.

[00:36:53] So what does islands offshore wind future hold? And how can businesses capitalize on the opportunities that it presents?

[00:37:01] I think as shawna and Trister and have highlighted, Ireland is not just a participant in this global energy transition but a leader in creating sustainable and innovative future.

[00:37:12] And it also seems to be so exciting possibilities for no industries from energy storage and hydrogen production to AI and semi-conduct and manufacturing and so much more.

[00:37:22] But as we reflect on today's discussion, I think it's evident that island strategic investment in grid infrastructure policy developments and talent development.

[00:37:31] These are all setting the stage for a thriving offshore wind ecosystem.

[00:37:36] And for anybody listing wanting to be a part of this green revolution, the opportunity is all fast from the twin transition of digital and green technologies to the potential of cheaper energy that could fuel groundbreaking innovations.

[00:37:49] But look to your thoughts on anything we talked about today as always, take blog right to outlook.com.

[00:37:55] Some of you quick DM on LinkedIn and Twitter Instagram just at Neil Seekuse and if you want to work with me, my website is tech bloggerite.co.uk

[00:38:03] But that's it for today's episode. We covered a lot there and I've got another guest already lined up for tomorrow.

[00:38:10] So I'm going to make myself a drink, sit down and prepare for that interview right now.

[00:38:15] But thank you Felizniggas always and until next time. Don't be afraid, you.