Killian O'Connor

Operations Director of the team behind the award winning FlexiGrid™ software platform – an innovative cloud-based software that aggregates batteries, EV chargers and other distributed energy resource (DER) assets to create the smart, flexible energy system of the future.

• Responsible for overall operations of the business unit within the SMS plc group of companies. Responsibilities included day-to-day operations, departmental P&L, budgeting, group reporting, legals, contract management, commercial lead on all business activities, key account management, company secretarial, recruitment and business development.
• Company Director of Solo Energy Limited (SMS’s registered entity in Ireland)
• Led the business unit through its first delivery of FFR (Firm Frequency Response) to National Grid from and aggregated portfolio of residential batteries in Scotland.
• Grew the Demand Flexibility Service (DFS) function of the unit to become the largest independent aggregator of the service for National Grid ESO through sustained business development and customer acquisition activities.

• Co-founded Solo Energy in 2015 and successfully developed the business from start-up through to successful acquisition by SMS plc in 2019.
• Solo Energy developed the FlexiGrid software platform to aggregate home batteries, EV chargers and other DERs, such as PV systems, to operate as a centrally controllable Virtual Power Plant (VPP).
• Solo delivered several first-of-a-kind demonstration VPP projects in Ireland and UK, which were used to deliver grid services to the system operators.
• High-profile projects attracted the interest of several investors which, ultimately, led to the acquisition of Solo by SMS plc.
• Responsibilities included fundraising, budget management, P&L, grant applications, company secretarial activities, team management, legal, recruitment, business development

Wide and varied technical consultancy and management roles, primarily in the onshore wind sector.

2013 – 2015 Senior Engineer & Office Manager, DNV (Cork, Ireland)

• Cork office manager overseeing a team of five engineers and sub-management of another five engineers based in Glasgow.
• Responsibilities included team and project management, resource scheduling, quality control, contract budgeting, tender submissions, liaising with multi-disciplinary teams based at company HQ, business development and conference attendance in addition to day-to-day office management.
• Led over 1GW of wind energy projects through due diligence in Ireland, Scandinavia, India, Middle East and Africa.

2012 – 2013 Project Engineer, DNV (formerly Garrad Hassan Ireland) (Cork, Ireland)

• Experienced team member involved in training of colleagues and business development activities within the Irish market.
• Member of internal working groups and R&D activities.
• Primary consultant on large portfolios of ground-breaking developments in the Irish wind industry.
• Key client contact for several large industry players.

2010 – 2011 Engineer, DNV (formerly Garrad Hassan & Partners) (Bristol, UK)

• Provision of technical consultancy services to developers and owners of onshore wind farms. Services included wind resource assessments, meteorological conditions studies, energy yield predictions and wind farm production analyses in addition to numerous bespoke and non-standard projects. Technical proficiency in these areas of consultancy required knowledge of the regulatory frameworks in place for renewable energy across several regions.
• Primarily involved in wind farm developments in South Africa, Egypt, India, Greece, UK and Ireland

• R&D position in the hydrodynamics department of tidal energy turbine manufacturer. Completed as part of MSc accreditation.
• Comprehensive testing of Orbital's 1/20th scale rotor was undertaken in a purpose-built combined tide and wave test tank in the hydrodynamics department.