We are excited to share that our very own Patrick Donlon, a project manager for sites in Ireland & the UK has won the Young Industry Person of the Year Award at the Irish Renewable Energy Awards. With a bachelor’s in environmental biology and a masters in renewable energy & environmental finance from UCD, Patrick has been at BNRG Renewables for over 3 years and has made substantial contributions in both project delivery and technical achievement.
He has originated a substantial portfolio of solar PV, hybrid and standalone battery energy storage systems across Ireland and the UK. This year he has manged the planning submission for two hybrid projects in Ireland, each with a develop – to – build mindset and community focused development approach.
Coming from a farming background, Patrick talks about how this experience shapes how he approach’s every land conversation.
“I understand the risks landowners weigh when they’re considering renewables: how it affects their farm operations, succession planning, and their role in the community. I’ve made it a personal goal to be the kind of developer who listens first and builds trust early.”
His pioneering work in agrivoltaics inspired by his farming background has led to partnership with farmers to explore the opportunity of integrating solar generation with food production. This initiative demonstrates how renewable infrastructure can support both agriculture and climate resilience.
Patrick advocates strongly for the mixed use of land, where clean energy works alongside productive agriculture.
“For me, solar can and should be part of how we strengthen rural areas, not take from them. “
He sees the young industry person of the year award as recognition of his innovative, community-led work and hopes it helps scale new ideas at BNRG. He credits the achievement to the entire team. He aims to make agrivoltaics commercially viable, with a replicable model and ensure every project boost biodiversity. His goal is a sector that produces energy while restoring the land.
BNRG and the team are proud of this achievement, a testament to our hard work and shared commitment. Together, we’ve shown what dedicated collaboration can deliver.
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