Airtricity

Infobox_Company
company_name = Airtricity, Ltd
company_
company_type = Subsidiary of Scottish and Southern Energy
foundation = Dublin, Ireland (1997)
location = Dublin, Ireland
key_people = Paul Dowling - CEO
num_employees = 380
Industry = electricity generation
products = Electricity
homepage = [http://www.airtricity.com/ www.airtricity.com/]

Airtricity is an international wind farm developer and operator and an integrated renewable electricity utility in the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom.

The name is a portmanteau of air and electricity. Originally, the company was known as Eirtricity, which is derived from the word "Éire", Irish for "Ireland". This change was made in 2002 to reflect the growing international interests of the company.

The company, established in 1997 by Dr. Eddie O'Connor, has a growing generation capacity in Ireland based in counties Cavan, Donegal, Sligo and Wexford. It also operates the Arklow Bank Wind Park, this was planned as the largest wind farm in Ireland at the time of its construction however only 7 of a planned 200 turbines were built. Airtricity also built and operates the 72 MW Meentycat wind farm which is currently the largest Irish wind farm. It operates both north and south of the Irish border. It also operates windfarms in Scotland, England and Wales.

As of May 2008, the company has 24 wind farms in operation throughout Ireland and the UK resulting in over 600MW. A further 7 wind farms totaling over 100MW are under construction. Construction of the Greater Gabbard offshore windfarm is due to start shortly which is planned 500 MW using 140 x 3.6MW Siemens turbines. [http://www.airtricity.com/ireland/media_center/press_releases/ireland/GG%20construction.doc] Airtricity also supplies 100% renewable electricity to its customer base in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Airtricity is owned by Scottish and Southern Energy as of 15 February 2008 and now describes itself as "the renewable arm of Scottish and Southern Energy Group". [cite web
url = http://www.airtricity.com/ireland/media_center/press_releases/ireland/Sale%20of%20Business%20confirmed.doc
title = AIRTRICITY COMPLETES SALE TO SCOTTISH AND SOUTHERN ENERGY PLC
author = Murphy, Brendan and Walsh, Majella| authorlink=
accessdate = 2008-02-15| date = 2008-02-15| publisher = Airtricity per the summary on [http://www.airtricity.com/ireland/media_center/press_releases/list_all/ AIRTRICITY - LIST ALL PRESS RELEASES] ]

Eddie O'Connor has since left Airtricity and founded Mainstream Renewable Power.

Airtricity has unveiled preliminary plans to build a supergrid, a HVDC electric cable running from Spain to the Baltic Sea and connecting several large offshore wind parks.

In 2007 Airtricity was named The No.1 Best Company to Work For in Ireland by the [http://www.greatplacetowork.com/ Great Place To Work Institute] .

References