Ireland's journey towards a sustainable future is impossible without addressing the catastrophic decline in biodiversity, which underpins our very existence and economy. We must stop treating nature as a remote ecological issue.
This episode explores how nature acts as our critical life support system from producing food and clean water to mitigating climate change through natural systems like bogs. We look at the misconceptions surrounding biodiversity, the tangible risks for businesses, and what practical, non-tokenistic actions can be taken today, especially for Ireland's endangered wild bee species.
Joining host Dylan Walsh is Professor Jane Stout, a leading expert on pollinators and ecology. Jane is a co-founder of both Nature Capital Ireland and the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, two initiatives that have transformed Ireland’s approach to protecting nature.
Things We Spoke About
Biodiversity is fundamental life support system
Misconceptions: Nature is not material
Biodiversity loss risks Irish agriculture
Thinking about risks and opportunities
Pollinators: One third of bees at risk
GUEST DETAILS
Professor Jane Stout is the Vice President for Biodiversity and Climate Action and Professor of Ecology at the School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin. Her expertise covers biodiversity and ecosystem services, natural capital, and pollination ecology. She is a co-founder and deputy chair of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan and a co-founder and former Chair of the Board of Directors for Natural Capital Ireland.
MORE INFORMATION
About The Energy Canvas Podcast
The Energy Canvas is brought to you by Celtic Dynamics, exploring the intersection of engineering innovation, sustainability, and business success in Ireland's evolving energy landscape. Each episode features conversations with industry leaders, researchers, and entrepreneurs driving real climate action and decarbonisation solutions.
SUBSCRIBE AND CONNECT
To stay updated on the latest episodes and energy sector insights, visit celticdynamics.ie or search "The Energy Canvas" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform.
GET IN TOUCH
Have a question about energy systems, hydrogen technology, or want to suggest a future guest?
Contact us at www.celticdynamics.com or connect with Celtic Dynamics on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/celtic-dynamics.
This podcast is produced by DustPod.io, creating compelling audio content that drives conversation and action in the energy and sustainability sectors.
QUOTES
So, you know, we can't become sustainable long term in Ireland or anywhere without looking after biodiversity. - Professor Jane Stout
The risks and opportunities for businesses are linked very much to finances. Biodiversity loss is a part of that financial risk. Biodiversity is not simply something that is ‘nice to have’. - Professor Jane Stout
As a university, the biggest thing we can do is integrate biodiversity into our teaching and our research and create a generation of graduates that are ready for the workforce. - Professor Jane Stout
KEYWORDS
Biodiversity, climate change, natural systems, pollinators, ecology, nature capital, Ireland, sustainability
Ireland's retrofit challenge demands innovative solutions combining strategic planning, robust data management, and community-level support to achieve decarbonisation targets.
Xavier Dubuisson is the RetroKit founder with 30 years sustainable energy experience across Europe. He explains how climate tech platform uses BER data and duration certificates assessing housing performance whilst modelling upgrade scenarios calculating investment costs for financial planning.
He talks about why moving to Ireland in 2001 provided transformative opportunities developing renewable energy policies including Greener Homes Scheme and House of Tomorrow programme, and current barriers including affordability constraints, supply chain gaps, and political climate shifts threatening progress despite catastrophic climate change impacts already visible requiring maintained ambition and action.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
GUEST DETAILS
Xavier Dubuisson is CEO of RetroKit, an energy engineer bringing more than 25 years of sustainable energy experience in Ireland and Belgium. He moved to Ireland in 2001 to work with SEAI at their Renewable Energy Information Office and has been deeply involved in driving the energy transition ever since. His mission is to scale up and digitise the retrofitting process across Ireland and the EU through strong passion for innovation towards energy and climate goals, sharing experience gained over years through development of digital tools.
MORE INFORMATION
The Energy Canvas is brought to you by Celtic Dynamics, exploring the intersection of engineering innovation, sustainability, and business success in Ireland's evolving energy landscape. Each episode features conversations with industry leaders, researchers, and entrepreneurs driving real climate action and decarbonisation solutions.
To stay updated on the latest episodes and energy sector insights, visit celticdynamics.ie or search "The Energy Canvas" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform.
Contact us at www.celticdynamics.com or connect with Celtic Dynamics on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/celtic-dynamics.
Produced by DustPod.io for Celtic Dynamics
QUOTES
In the context of climate change, it's already here. Give us another 10, 20, years, it's going to be catastrophic. Really. We can't delay action, you know, and we can't reduce ambitions in that regard.- Xavier Dubuisson
I realised there was very little tools for energy efficiency. Modelling for renewable energy technology is well established but for energy efficiency at the time there was very little or nothing. - Xavier Dubuisson
We're not hitting the target of 50,000 homes for deep energy retrofits. Key constraints are cost. Not many people can afford it. Funding helps but affordability is a critical factor. - Xavier Dubuisson
KEYWORDS
#ClimateChange #EnergySolutions RetrofitChallenge #SustainableEnergy #Decarbonisation #EnergyEfficiency
One in four Irish businesses unknowingly pays 40-50% too much for energy by drifting out of contract—a costly mistake that energy broker Stephen King fixes daily.
From the Ukraine-Russia conflict driving prices from 17 cents to 80 cents per kilowatt, to solar PV systems now delivering 2-3 year returns with grant funding, discover why Ireland's €96 million energy spenders could save millions through centralized procurement.
Stephen explains the hidden non-commodity costs consuming 55% of bills, why generation is the ultimate price protection, and his controversial view that future generations must innovate us out of environmental crisis.
Things We Spoke About
Guest Details:
Stephen King is the CEO and founder of Energy Matters Ireland, a company dedicated to helping businesses across Ireland transition to cleaner, more efficient energy systems. With a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies, Stephen combines academic knowledge with over a decade of practical experience in energy management, sustainability, and renewable technologies.
Energy Matters Ireland provides tailored solutions in energy procurement, solar energy, EV charging infrastructure, and sustainability consultancy. The company’s mission is to empower organisations to reduce their carbon footprint, lower energy costs, and contribute to Ireland’s transition toward a low‑carbon economy.
Through innovation, transparency, and results-driven strategies, Stephen has positioned Energy Matters Ireland as a trusted partner for businesses seeking to achieve environmental and financial sustainability, giving one hotel €242,000 annually and a multi-site retailer €180,000 just by switching suppliers.
Stephen's Website: www.energymattersireland.ie
About The Energy Canvas Podcast:
The Energy Canvas is brought to you by Celtic Dynamics, exploring the intersection of engineering innovation, sustainability, and business success in Ireland's evolving energy landscape. Each episode features conversations with industry leaders, researchers, and entrepreneurs driving real climate action and decarbonisation solutions. The podcast is produced by DustPod.io
Get In Touch:
Have a question about energy systems, hydrogen technology, or want to suggest a future guest? Contact us at www.celticdynamics.com or connect with Celtic Dynamics on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/celtic-dynamics
Quotes:
"We know the energy market, we know the suppliers, we know the tricks of the trade. We know what the best prices are." - Stephen King
"We find that in general there's normally at least 30 to 40% reductions available, and they come from solar PV usually being quite a big driver of energy cost reductions." - Stephen King
"If you are doing things sustainably, you will drive your business further forward. Every product that is sold is derived from the natural environment." - Stephen King
KEYWORDS
#energybrokerage #commercialenergy #solarPVROI #businessenergysavings #energyefficiency
In a world of rising energy costs and urgent climate targets, how do engineers lead real decarbonisation action?
Ou guest Professor Rory Monaghan explains how. He is from the University of Galway and coordinates SH2AMROCK—Ireland's first Hydrogen Valley—a €54 million project demonstrating hydrogen across transport, industry, and aviation.
Discover why Ireland's electricity is actually expensive because of fossil fuels (not renewables), how excess wind energy can be stored as hydrogen for months, and why the planning system is the key infrastructure challenge to solve before 2030.
Things We Spoke About:
Guest Details:
Professor Rory Monaghan is Professor in Energy Systems Engineering at the University of Galway, where he leads the Mechanical Engineering Discipline and the Erin research group focused on energy system decarbonisation. He serves as Coordinator of SH2AMROCK, a 5-year, €54-million project to build, operate, and grow Ireland's first Hydrogen Valley.
He holds a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Galway and both Master's and PhD degrees in the same field from MIT. His passion for hydrogen technology began over 20 years ago as an undergraduate student and has guided his entire research career.
Connect with Professor Monaghan:
About The Energy Canvas Podcast:
The Energy Canvas is brought to you by Celtic Dynamics, exploring the intersection of engineering innovation, sustainability, and business success in Ireland's evolving energy landscape. Each episode features conversations with industry leaders, researchers, and entrepreneurs driving real climate action and decarbonisation solutions. This podcast is produced by DustPod.io
Get In Touch:
Have a question about energy systems, hydrogen technology, or want to suggest a future guest? Contact us at www.celticdynamics.com or connect with Celtic Dynamics on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/celtic-dynamics
Quotes:
"The way we are consuming energy, we're moving energy, we're producing energy is not sustainable. We're robbing from the future." - Professor Rory Monaghan
"We need to educate engineers in understanding what exactly society's needs are." - Professor Rory Monaghan
"We make great plans, great strategies, really good policies in Ireland—but the inaction of it is really, really difficult." - Professor Rory Monaghan
KEYWORDS
#hydrogenenergy #energydecarbonisation #climateaction #renewableenergy #engineeringinnovation
If you're responsible for energy costs in your organisation, you already know the pressure on rising bills, compliance deadlines, and sustainability targets that seem impossible to hit.
The Energy Canvas cuts through the noise to bring you what actually works in energy management. We're not here to sell you on the next big thing or drown you in jargon. We're here to show you how companies like yours are already winning.
In each episode, we sit down with energy experts and the people doing this work every day:
WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER
WHY YOU SHOULD LISTEN
The Energy Canvas is essential listening for operations managers, facility directors, sustainability leads, CFOs, and anyone who has to answer for energy spending. Whether you're managing a single facility or overseeing multiple sites, you'll hear practical advice on audits, compliance, grants, and savings that impact your bottom line today.
Energy challenges don't wait and neither should your solutions.
Press “Follow” now to automatically get our first two special episodes dropping this November on Apple, Spotify and YouTube.