By Business & Finance 
Pictured (L-R): Declan Ryan, CEO of Project Foundry, and John Reilly, Head of Renewables at BnM, with the Public Enterprise of the Year Award.
One year on from being named “ESG of the Year” at the Business & Finance Awards, BnM hosted its 2026 Energy Conference, bringing together leaders from Ireland’s energy, infrastructure and investment sectors to discuss the priorities shaping the country’s energy transition.
By Emma Montalbani
Held at the Tullamore Court Hotel on 14 May, this year’s conference centred on the theme “Infrastructure and Investment”. Discussions focused on the role of energy infrastructure and capital investment in supporting Ireland’s renewable energy ambitions.
During the event, BnM reiterated its plans to develop up to 7.5GW of renewable generation capacity, alongside a €3 billion investment programme over the next decade.
Panel discussions throughout the day focused on the need to accelerate infrastructure delivery to support economic growth, energy security and long-term competitiveness.
Speakers included representatives from EirGrid, Wind Energy Ireland, IDA Ireland, Amazon Web Services and KPMG, alongside senior executives from BnM and other public and private sector organisations.
Tom Donnellan, Chief Executive of BnM, said the conference provided “an important forum” for industry, policymakers and investors, adding that Ireland must now move “from ambition and policy towards practical delivery”.
The conference also marked the launch of BnM’s new brand platform, “Where Progress Gets Its Power”, reflecting the organisation’s evolving role as a strategic energy delivery partner for Ireland.
As in previous years, the event included a showcase of companies participating in the Accelerate Green 2026 programme, highlighting Irish businesses focused on climate action and sustainable energy innovation.
Addressing the conference, Ireland’s Minister for Climate, Energy, the Environment and Transport, Darragh O’Brien, said, “Ireland’s energy transition depends not only on ambition, but on the infrastructure, investment and innovation required to turn that ambition into delivery.”
He added that BnM is “playing a central role in that transition”, highlighting the company’s contribution to renewable energy generation as well as the infrastructure and partnerships needed to support a “more secure, resilient and low-carbon energy system”.
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