David Brennan on Eastgate Engineering’s Triumph at the Irish Construction Industry Awards 2024

By April Lara

December 02, 2024

David Brennan, Managing Director of Eastgate Engineering, a leader in innovative renewable energy solutions, has been instrumental in the company’s significant contributions to the offshore wind sector. Eastgate Engineering is crucial in developing Dogger Bank, the world’s largest offshore wind farm, as part of its broader portfolio of cutting-edge renewable energy projects.

This outstanding contribution, alongside other impactful projects, has earned Eastgate Engineering the prestigious Engineering Firm of the Year title at the Irish Construction Industry Awards 2024.

In this Q&A, David shares his insights into Eastgate’s innovative approach, the challenges of large-scale projects, and how this award reflects their ongoing commitment to sustainability, excellence, and shaping the future of engineering.

What do you believe set your entry apart from the other nominees this year?

Eastgate Engineering is constructing the world’s largest offshore wind farm, Dogger Bank. It is a 3.6GW offshore wind farm off the east coast of England. We are amongst the market leaders in Wind Turbine Mechanical & Electrical Pre-Assembly. Now, gaining the opportunity to further our service offerings for Offshore Substations as well as Transition Piece Fit-Out, Array Cable Termination & Testing, and Offshore Commissioning, we are developing a critical niche service offering to the OSW Tier 1’s and OEMs that creates long term sustainable employment opportunities. We are working on 4.8 GW of Offshore Wind Projects in the UK alone. We are continuously working on building further capacity to service the market needs of Ireland and Mainland Europe.

 

Can you tell us more about the project or innovation that you believe most contributed to this win?

The world's largest offshore wind farm, Dogger Bank, is being developed in three phases – Dogger Bank A, B, and C – Located more than 130km off the North East coast of England, Dogger Bank Wind Farm will be capable of powering up to 6 million homes annually. Upon completion, it will have an installed generation capacity of 3.6 GW. Across the three phases, there are 277 turbines. Each tower is 260m tall, almost twice the London Eye's height. Each turbine blade is 107m long, which is twice the wingspan of the Angel of the North. Once fully operational, Dogger Bank will generate annual CO2 savings equivalent to the emissions of nearly 1.5 million average internal combustion engine petrol cars.

This is the only Offshore Wind Project of this scale that has yet to be undertaken, and it comes with its challenges. The North Sea is difficult to navigate under normal conditions, but when the task involves installing 277 of the most powerful offshore wind turbines in operation today, GE’s Haliade-X. During construction, we will use the world’s largest jack-up installation vessel, the Voltaire, operated by Jan de Nuu.

What does this award mean for your clients and partners?

It’s a magnificent achievement for all our employees to be accredited with such an award, and its a testament to the work we do on some of the most complex projects in the world. The recognition of such an award demonstrates to our current and prospective clients that Eastgate Engineering is a world leader in Offshore Wind and gives them confidence in our performance and capabilities to deliver their projects.

 

How does this award reflect Eastgate Engineering's mission and values?

Being recognised as the Engineering Firm of the Year is a fantastic achievement. It further confirms our values and commitment to be at the forefront of sustainable engineering at scale. We aim to continue growing as leaders in renewable energy, industrial manufacturing, and beyond while staying true to the values that define us. We will continue to build trust, deliver excellence, and help shape a better, more sustainable future for the industries and communities we serve.

 

Why do you think companies like yours should enter the awards?

The whole process was very worthwhile because we were successful in winning, but it also allowed us to look inward at what we were doing and how far we had come as a business. Sometimes, when immersed in the industry, it's easier to see your achievements once they are highlighted, and this award has given us the platform to show everyone else what we are doing, too.

As Eastgate Engineering continues to lead in shaping the renewable energy landscape, its recognition as Engineering Firm of the Year highlights its commitment to excellence, sustainability, and innovation. Brennan and his team exemplify what it means to tackle the world’s most complex engineering challenges with vision and determination. Their role in projects sets a benchmark for the industry, proving that ambitious goals can be achieved with the right expertise and values.

This Irish Construction Industry Awards is more than a milestone; it’s a testament to Eastgate Engineering’s enduring impact on building a greener, more sustainable future.

Be part of the Irish Construction Industry Awards 2025 to honour the best in construction and innovation. Details will follow soon, but you can get involved now and be part of Ireland’s premier industry event.