5 August 2019. Greenlink Interconnector Limited has announced today that it has appointed two leading figures from the Irish energy and business sectors, Tim Cowhig and Johnny Shine. The appointments further strengthen the management of the company as the project moves towards key development milestones.
Tim Cowhig, a long-time champion of the Irish renewable energy sector, was CEO of Element Power Ireland until its sale in 2018, CEO of SWS and Chair of the Irish Wind Energy Association. He joins the Board of Directors. Johnny Shine is the former Deputy Chief Executive of ESB, Ireland’s state-owned electricity utility, and was most recently Managing Director of eir Networks. He has had an extensive and successful career across the energy and telecoms sectors and joins the Greenlink Management Committee.
Greenlink is a privately-financed subsea and underground electricity interconnector that will link the power markets of Ireland and Great Britain. Procurement for the major construction contracts is currently well-advanced and planning applications are being prepared for submission later this year, following an extensive period of consultation with stakeholders. The project is expected to have a three-year construction programme, leading to commissioning in 2023.
Angus Norman, Interim Programme Director, said;
“We are delighted to bring on board two more highly-respected figures from the Irish energy sector - Johnny Shine and Tim Cowhig – who have exceptional strategic skills and experience of developing energy infrastructure in Ireland and abroad. These appointments follow the arrival in May of new investors, Partners Group, acting on behalf of their clients, and the recent appointment of Padraig McManus. It means we have a strong team and a firm financial footing upon which to take the project forward to the key milestones of planning consent and construction.”
Tim Cowhig said;
“Having guided numerous renewable energy start-ups to become key industry players, I am extremely excited about joining such an important energy project for Ireland. The Government’s recent ‘Climate Action Plan’ sets out a welcome vision, with an attainable 70% renewables target and unequivocal endorsement of the need for greater interconnection. It shows the value of Greenlink for the Irish energy market and the greater integration of low carbon sources.”
Johnny Shine said;
“Greenlink is a key infrastructure project that will bring private capital into the Irish energy market, to improve energy security, while supporting regional jobs and supply chain investment. In particular it will strengthen the energy industry in delivering greater market integration and value to consumers in Ireland and GB. I am therefore delighted to be working with Greenlink’s management team in driving this project forward.”
CONTACT FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Anna Stanford, Communications Consultant: M: +44 7961 234634 Anna.Stanford@greenlink.ie
Notes to Editors:
About Greenlink
Greenlink is a proposed interconnector linking the power markets in Ireland and Great Britain. The project comprises a subsea and underground cable and associated converter stations to connect EirGrid’s Great Island transmission substation in County Wexford (Ireland) and National Grid’s Pembroke transmission substation in Pembrokeshire (Wales). It has a nominal capacity of 500MW. The project is being developed by Greenlink Interconnector Limited and is expected to be fully operational by 2023. The project is considered of critical importance in Europe and has been awarded "Project of Common Interest" status by the European Commission. More details at: www.greenlink.ie @Greenlink_IC
About Tim Cowhig
Tim Cowhig was CEO of Element Power Ireland, which was purchased by the large Norwegian utility Statkraft in 2018. Prior to that, Tim was CEO of SWS Energy, which was sold to Bord Gáis Energy, the state-owned gas utility, in 2009. Tim had been instrumental in both businesses from start-up. Tim served as chairman of the Irish Wind Energy Association from 2002 to 2009 leading the development of wind energy among Irish policy makers, regulators and financial institutions. He currently serves as Director of a number of companies in Ireland, the UK and the USA. Tim is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, a member of the Institute of Directors and an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Tim holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from University College, Cork.
About Johnny Shine
Johnny Shine served as Managing Director of eir Networks from 2013 to 2016, where he led a major investment programme in its fibre and mobile networks before its sale to French company NJJ. Prior to this he was Deputy Chief Executive at ESB and was Chairman/Managing Director of ESB Networks (2003- 2009). Johnny is currently a member of the UCD Energy Institute Advisory Board and also serves as Chair of the Governance Committee of ESIPP, a major UCD Energy Research Integration Programme supported by Science Foundation Ireland and Industry. He is a past President of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce and currently serves as Chairman of Dublin-based charity MTCT. Johnny holds a Masters in Business Administration and an Electrical Engineering Degree from University College Dublin, and is a Fellow of Engineers Ireland.