Carmel Brennan - Environmental Advisor working on onshore wind projects across Ireland with SSE Renewables

Environmental Advisor

As part of getting planning permission for a wind farm the project will normally have a number of environmental conditions and need a Habitat Management Plan. An Environmental Advisor works closely with civil, mechanical and electrical engineers and other specialists to ensure these conditions and plans are delivered.

What did you want to do when you were 16?

I wanted to be a farmer. I grew up on a farm and loved animals and the outdoors. I became a vegetarian quite young, much to my parents’ dismay, which meant that I didn’t want to send animals to the factory, so that made farming a difficult choice.

Back then, I also wanted to see more of the world. Today, I’m living on the farm where I grew up and I work on wind farms, so it worked out well and I’m never too far from my wellies.

What kind of qualifications do you need for your job?

Secondary school was difficult for me, and I left school at 17 with poor Leaving Cert results. I repeated the Leaving Cert when I was 24 and when on to college. From then on, I loved studying because I was doing what interested me and it was outside the traditional school environment.

Now I have a BSc in Environmental Science from NUI Galway, an MSc in Ecosystem Conservation and Landscape Management from UCC and a PhD in Wetland Ecology from the University of Ulster, Coleraine. Before I joined SSE, I worked as an ecological consultant* and biodiversity officer.**

What kind of career opportunities do you have?

There are so many opportunities in wind energy now, both in Ireland and internationally. The existing onshore industry is still growing and the offshore industry is rapidly emerging as we aim to achieve climate action targets by the end of the decade. It’s a great time to join the industry in any role.

For me, there is certainly potential to move around within the industry to growing areas like offshore wind and sustainability. Ecology is my area of interest and experience so I’d like to stay close to nature and the outdoors in any future role.

Best part of your working day?

I work with a wonderful, diverse and talented group of people. There is a strong sense of teamwork and collaboration across all the different teams and throughout the wider SSE group. I really enjoy getting out to our wind farm sites, many of which are in remote and beautiful parts of the island.

Something that might surprise people about your role?

I think the diversity of the role is surprising. We deal with biodiversity and habitat management.

We also implement environmental management systems and environmental obligations which include waste management, emergency response, drainage, noise, shadow flicker and many other environmental considerations.

We work closely with other teams on environmental education programmes and we are involved in offshore development now, too so there’s never a dull moment

Read more career insights here.

Wind Energy Ireland