On May 23rd, the third Accelerate Green Conference was held in Tullamore.

Representatives from industry, academia, investment, policy, and civil society came together to hear from the eight companies tackling global climate challenges that graduated from the 2024 Accelerate Green programme.

Tom Donnellan, Bord na Móna's CEO, kicked off the day by outlining Bord na Móna's green strategy and activities across areas such as renewable energy generation, recycling, and peatland restoration and rehabilitation.

The graduating cohort of Accelerate Green companies pitched their innovative solutions to climate challenges in short pitch sessions throughout the day. Find out more about the eight start-ups and their sustainability solutions.

A highlight of the day for many participants was the "SustainTrain", where conference attendees got to kick off the day's networking early as they travelled sustainably together on an Accelerate Green train carriage from Heuston Station to Tullamore.

Later in the day, participants heard from expert panels who discussed the commercial benefits of enhancing biodiversity through sustainable land use, and the future of energy in Ireland.

The commercial benefits of biodiversity panel was moderated by Richard Kennedy of InterTrade Ireland, with participants Jane Stout (Trinity College Dublin), Lisa Koep (Tirlán), and Ciarán Fallon (Coillte).

The future of energy in Ireland panel was moderated by Siobhán McHugh (PWC) with participants John Reilly (Bord na Móna), Donal Flavin (IDA) and Eoin Kennedy (EirGrid).