Position Description
The Renewables Team is tasked with identifying, acquiring, developing and managing new renewable investment opportunities on behalf of the ESB Group. The team will play an integral part in ESB’s net zero ambition by 2040 and will contribute significantly to ESB’s renewable energy target of 5GW by 2030, through the development and acquisition of onshore wind, solar, offshore wind and long-term storage and green hydrogen projects.
The Renewables Team within Asset Development sit in the Generation and Trading part of ESB’s business and is in the process of developing circa 2GW of onshore wind projects, 2GW of solar projects and 5GW of offshore wind projects in Ireland and the UK. Additionally, it is actively developing green hydrogen and long-term energy storage opportunities in Ireland and the UK. The team activities comprise identifying and developing opportunities to enhance and expand ESB’s renewables footprint to achieve ESB’s ambitious net zero targets.
This work is undertaken in partnership with other units across the business such as E&MP. Several onshore wind and solar sites have been identified and are being progressed in Ireland and the UK. In addition to development, this team is also tasked with acquiring wind, solar and battery storage projects.
The successful candidate will assist with the origination and acquisition of wind, solar and storage projects across the UK and Ireland. The M&A Associate will work closely with team members across the various business units in ESB, ensuring that these transactions are progressed in line with delivery strategy for ESB. The successful candidates will be highly motivated, innovative, commercially driven and have prior experience assisting with deal processes.
Key Responsibilities
Work in conjunction with the M&A Lead to:
1. Review acquisition teasers, information memoranda, and other acquisition project material and assess potential wind, solar or storage acquisitions in terms of their strategic and commercial attractiveness;
2. Co-ordinate effectively between the providers of inputs to the model and the financial modellers;
3. Assist with the preparation of papers for the BD Board and subsequent offer letters;
4. Co-ordinate with project vendors and ensure the acquisitions process meets vendor criteria as well as following ESB’s internal procedures;
5. Together with the wider Asset Development team build and maintain relationships with key external stakeholders and JV partners businesses on behalf of each of the projects;
6. Be fully informed of industry issues which may impact the project design and ensure that this information feeds into the decision-making process.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Essential
7. 5 years relevant experience
8. Strong commercial focus through having a clear understanding of the business case for large renewable/storage projects;
9. Demonstrable stakeholder management skills;
10. Experience of working from own initiative, taking ownership of work/projects and motivating team members to deliver team objectives or projects;
11. 3rd level qualification in engineering, business or finance;
Desirable
12. Understanding of power (particularly renewable) generation business is advantageous but not strictly required.
13. Financial appraisal / credit skills;
14. Familiarity with renewable power generation technologies;
15. Understanding of power generation business;
16. Experience of stakeholder engagement and management.
Qualifications
Essential
17. 3rd level qualification or equivalent in engineering, business or finance.