Jana Heppner
Team Lead, Offshore Delivery Phase 2, EirGrid
Jana Heppner moved to Dublin from Dortmund, Germany, in 2010 to study mechanical engineering. Fifteen years later, she now works to support Ireland’s offshore energy ambitions with EirGrid, the operator and developer of Ireland’s electricity grid.
The Government’s Climate Action Plan details that 80% of Ireland’s electricity must come from renewable sources, including at least five gigawatts from offshore generation.
Ambitious grid delivery programme
Ireland’s transition to a renewable-led electricity system is underway. To meet these ambitions, EirGrid is currently leading an unprecedented programme of new grid infrastructure projects, reinforcements and upgrades, including the delivery of a plan-led approach for connecting offshore wind to the electricity grid.
“Offshore wind is central to Ireland’s renewable energy targets, but bringing that energy ashore and ensuring it reaches homes, businesses and other facilities, requires complex planning, cutting-edge engineering and a robust but agile transmission system,” says Heppner.
“EirGrid’s Powering Up Offshore – South Coast project is working to build new offshore transmission infrastructure to connect 900 MW of offshore wind from Ireland’s south coast to the existing on shore network, enough to power nearly a million homes,” adds Heppner, who is the team lead for the project. “This means planning, getting consent for and constructing new offshore infrastructure, such as offshore substations and subsea cables.”
Offshore wind is a once-in-a-generation
opportunity for Ireland.
Opportunities in offshore wind
The rapid expansion of the electricity grid and the offshore sector will also result in an increased demand for skilled engineers in the coming years. “It’s a fantastic time to join the industry,” insists Heppner. “Over the coming years, the offshore sector will need engineers with knowledge across mechanical, electrical and various other engineering disciplines to maintain turbine components, substations and high-voltage cables, as well as skills in turbine life cycle assessment, circular economy and maritime protection. That could mean transformational economic and community development in many coastal regions in the coming decades.”
Moving forward with the grid
With electricity demand expected to continue to rise over the next decade, driven by our evolving society and economy, our grid must be ready for the future. Offshore wind projects like Powering Up Offshore – South Coast are critical in turning our abundant offshore wind resource into reliable, safe and clean energy, according to Heppner.
“Offshore wind is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Ireland. There are challenges to overcome, but EirGrid is ensuring that we will continue to have a safe, secure and reliable source of clean energy for future generations.”
