The rise of a renewables major

Mainstream Renewable Power CEO Andy Kinsella says the declining cost of wind and solar power means the era of oil and gas is coming to an end

Mainstream has grown into a global renewable energy development and construction powerhouse under CEO Andy Kinsella. He has been with the firm since its creation in 2008, initially running its offshore business. Mainstream has since added solar photovoltaics (PV) to its offering and aims to accelerate and lead the transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy. Eddie O'Connor founded Mainstream after he sold Future Wind Partners and then Airtricity, the latter to traditional utilities SSE of the UK and Germany's Eon for €1.8bn ($2.01bn). Still chairman and majority shareholder, he stepped back from the business two years ago to concentrate on subsidiary company Super Node and passed lead