Irish Women in Solar 2026 - Ellen O’Sullivan, Amarenco

Ireland’s solar transition will be delivered through projects, infrastructure and investment. But for those projects to succeed, they also need something less easily measured: trust.

For Ellen O’Sullivan, Community Liaison Officer and Office Manager at Amarenco, building that trust is at the heart of her role.

Ellen’s route into renewable energy was far from conventional. She began her career in retail at 17, progressing into management before moving into office management with a plant hire company in Cork. She later joined BayWa, where she spent four years as Office Manager, before an opportunity at Amarenco allowed her to take the next step in both her career and the renewable energy sector.

Finding Purpose in Renewables

For Ellen, the attraction of solar comes from knowing that the work she does today can have an impact long into the future.

“Knowing that the work I do every day contributes to something that will have a lasting impact.”

That purpose extends beyond generating clean electricity. In her community liaison role, Ellen works directly with the people and communities surrounding renewable energy developments, helping to build understanding, listen to concerns and ensure local voices are part of the conversation.

It is a role that becomes increasingly important as Ireland accelerates renewable energy deployment. Delivering infrastructure is one part of the transition. Bringing communities with us is another.

Building Benefits Beyond the Project

One of Ellen’s proudest career moments demonstrates what meaningful community engagement can look like in practice.

Through Amarenco’s community outreach, she helped support a local camogie club with much-needed equipment. As a former camogie player herself, the initiative had particular significance.

“Knowing that more young players will have the opportunity to take to the pitch, regardless of cost, made this especially rewarding.”

For Ellen, community benefit is about creating something tangible for the places hosting renewable energy infrastructure. She is looking forward to seeing the impact Amarenco’s Community Benefit Fund can have over the coming years and ensuring communities experience real value from the projects being developed around them.

Visibility Matters

Ellen’s career has also brought moments that illustrate why representation across the energy sector still matters. There have been occasions when members of the public have looked past her to a male colleague, assuming he was leading the project when Ellen was actually the person in charge.

Rather than allowing those experiences to discourage her, she sees visibility as part of changing expectations.

“The more women we see succeeding in this industry, the more we break down those assumptions and inspire others to pursue careers in renewable energy.”

Her own journey reinforces that message. A career in solar does not require one particular qualification, background or starting point. The sector needs people with different skills and experiences, from engineering and planning to commercial development, communications and community engagement.

Her advice to other women considering renewable energy is equally straightforward: believe in yourself, be willing to learn and do not be afraid to speak up.

Creating Stronger Networks

Ellen also believes there is an opportunity to create stronger connections between women already working across the industry. More networking, working groups and opportunities to share experiences could be particularly valuable for women beginning their careers or stepping into new roles.

“Sometimes just having a network of people who understand the industry can make a big difference.”

It is an important reminder that representation is not only about bringing women into the sector. It is also about creating the networks, confidence and opportunities that enable them to progress once they are here.

Looking Ahead

Ellen sees continued expansion of large-scale solar as one of Ireland’s biggest opportunities, supported by investment in battery storage and the grid infrastructure needed to make the most of renewable generation. But her own contribution to that future will remain firmly focused on people.

“As a Community Liaison Officer, I hope to help build trust between local communities and the renewable energy industry.”

That means listening to concerns, communicating clearly and ensuring communities feel involved throughout project development. Ultimately, Ellen wants the people living alongside renewable infrastructure not only to understand its benefits, but to experience those benefits and feel proud of their contribution to Ireland’s clean energy transition.

She credits Amarenco’s Declan Cullinane as an important mentor in her own journey, recognising her potential and giving her the confidence to embrace new challenges and continue developing her career.

As Ireland builds more solar, community engagement cannot be an afterthought. Successful projects depend on relationships as much as infrastructure, and on ensuring the communities hosting our energy transition have a meaningful place within it.

Ellen’s journey shows the difference that can make, and that there is more than one path to finding your place in solar.