David Brennan guides his business, Eastgate Engineering, to significant achievements from his understated offices in the heart of Waterford. The firm is presently involved in supplying GE Vernova with mechanical and electrical services for the pre-assembly process of wind turbine towers for Dogger Bank, the largest offshore wind farm globally.
The scope of this project is enormous. Upon completion, Dogger Bank will house 277 wind turbines, each as tall as Dublin’s Spire, positioned over 140km off the northern English coast. Combined, these turbines can produce power for up to six million households each year, amounting to 3.6 gigawatts (GW) of electricity, as reported by the Dogger Bank project’s developer. An additional phase will contribute 2GW, bringing the total to 5.6GW, surpassing Ireland’s entire offshore wind power objective for 2030.
However, this is just one among various engineering projects Eastgate Engineering, which employs a workforce of 200, is currently tackling. Other projects include Inch Cape, a distinct offshore wind venture located 15km off the Scottish coastline. Eastgate Engineering aids in constructing the offshore transformer module, contributing to generating 1.2 gigawatts – sufficient power for over 1.6 million houses.
Brennan claims that their active involvement in producing 6.8 GW of offshore wind power is quite notable compared to Ireland’s existing offshore wind total output of just 0.025 GW.
Ireland’s renewable energy future appears hopeful. European Commission’s president Ursula von der Leyen mentioned during her 2022 Dublin visit the potential for Ireland to emerge as a “clean energy powerhouse”. Brennan is drawn to this idea.
Brennan highlights the significant opportunity for Ireland to establish a colossal green industry potentially creating tens of thousands of durable jobs, given the government acts swiftly and ambitiously. According to Brennan the driving elements are cleaner energy creation and considerable, sustainable employment opportunities.
Each year, a staggering 65,000 youngsters are leaving our lovely nation for numerous reasons. My aim is to establish opportunities that will allow young people to stay and develop long-term vocational paths in offshore wind and the related circular economy.
Brennan recently arranged an educational trip for a group of 30 students and staff members from South East Technological University (SETU) in Waterford. The adventure included a trip to the Dogger Bank and Inch Cape projects, along with a visit to the Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre in Middlesbrough, a joint research establishment aiding local companies in achieving their net zero aspirations. Brennan, with UK offices based in the nearby Bellingham, proudly claims, “We are the first port of call for net zero”.
The corporation offers a diverse range of services including engineering, construction, commissioning and maintenance to various industrial and commercial sectors, not exclusively to offshore wind.
An enthralling collaboration for Brennan is currently with mining titan, Anglo American, residing at Woodsmith, the largest global mine of polyhalite, a naturally occurring fertiliser with a minimal environmental footprint. This compound, nestled 1.5 kilometres beneath the earth in North Yorkshire, comprises potassium, calcium and magnesium rendered in a hydrated sulphite form.
The £8 billion Sterling project will facilitate its extraction. This product has numerous advantages in agriculture; it consumes one-third of the water compared to traditional fertilisers and only a third of it needs to be spread on fields.
Brennan believes this could be an effective solution to Ireland’s agricultural issues concerning nitrates. It would enable farmers to lessen the environmental impact while preserving crop productivity.
Brennan’s successful venture, Eastgate Engineering, is not only a commercial triumph, but a personal one too. Spending most of his childhood in foster care, including periods of unhappiness, after being born in a home for mothers and babies, has fuelled his drive to succeed.
He pursued his apprenticeship as an electrician after high school due to a lack of funds for higher education. Shortly, he began working on an international stage as a consultant. A decade later, in 2015, he launched his current office.
Despite residing just beyond the border in Kilkenny, setting up a base for his business in Waterford was a natural choice, given his close ties to the place, having spent his school days and early years of social outings and sporting activities there. Eastgate Engineering’s initial contracts were bagged in England and Wales, as there wasn’t much happening in the Irish renewable sector at the time. His prior work experience in the UK gave him a good understanding of the market.
Today, he heads a team of 200 employees who work in his company’s headquarters in Waterford and operational centre in Teesside. His goal remains to aid the development of his domestic market. He highlights that since the establishment of a trailblazing wind farm just outside Arklow, Ireland’s progress in offshore wind has been lacklustre. He suggests that increased government support in the form of streamlining the planning process and investing in ports can bring improvements.
“There’s a necessity for investments in our ports and fostering the growth of offshore wind to halt the talent exodus and provide a sustainable future for our youngsters,” he notes. He emphasises that without government investment in the ports, the country would fail to establish a major presence in the offshore wind industry to achieve the 5GW and 37GW offshore wind targets set for 2030 and 2050, respectively.
As the parent of three children, ensuring a solid base for the incoming generation is crucial to Brennan. His choice to bring up his family in the sunny southeast was also influenced by personal considerations. He speaks highly of the region as a place offering a fine living, working and educational environment, enhanced by an esteemed university, SETU. His children were schooled in Waterford and had the liberty to choose from a wide variety of subjects.
The affordable cost of living, engaging social scene, fantastic eateries and bars, and the country’s best beaches, such as Tramore, make the city an attractive place to live. The city also boasts excellent transport links, including the ferry port at Rosslare and Waterford regional airport.
The mix of industries in Waterford, including pharma, engineering and construction, along with a prominent history of manufacturing, brings beneficial opportunities for both local and foreign investors.
In addition to this, our potential for renewable energy, particularly offshore, is immense. The Waterford port could significantly contribute to the wind energy sector, with the potential of generating thousands of employment opportunities.