Since 1977, the IEA Wind TCP has developed and deployed wind energy technology through vigorous national programs and co-operative international efforts.
Executive Committee
The International Energy Agency Wind Technology Collaboration Programme (IEA Wind TCP) is an international co-operation that shares information and research activities to advance wind energy research, development and deployment in member countries. The Wind TCP Executive Committee Representative for Ireland is Mr. John McCann (SEAI).
For further information, please visit the IEA Wind TCP webpage.

John McCann
Wind Energy - Programme Manager
John McCann
Wind Energy - Programme Manager
John McCann is Wind Energy Programme Manager with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and is a Mechanical Engineer with over 30 years’ energy sector experience in both the public and private sectors. As Wind Energy Programme Manager he coordinates wind energy research within SEAI and provides policy support to Government.
His previous career included working as an Engineer and Engineering Manager for multinational companies. He has represented SEAI in key initiatives facilitating the development of the wind energy sector in Ireland including the Grid Upgrade Development Programme and the All Island Grid Study. More recently he initiated formation of the Irish Wind Energy Research Network with the aim of stimulating more wind energy research collaboration and world class research projects in Ireland.
He is the IEA Wind TCP Executive Committee member for Ireland and is the current Chair of that committee, in which role, along with the Vice-Chairs and Secretary, he coordinates the Executive Committee in their oversight of IEA Wind international collaborative research projects or 'Tasks'.
Contact: john.mccann@seai.ie
Tasks
Task 11 — Base Technology Information Exchange
The aim of this Task is to promote wind turbine technology through information exchange among experts on R&D topics. The primary mechanism for executing this is through holding "Topical Expert Meetings" on priority research topics agreed by the ExCo.
The Representative for Task 11 is Mr. John McCann (SEAI).
For further information about the Task, please visit the IEA Wind TCP webpage.
Task 19 — Wind Energy in Cold Climates
The aim of this Task is to improve large scale deployment of cold climate wind power in a safe and economically feasible manner.
The Representative for Task 19 is Mr. Mert Satir (Siemens Gamesa).
For further information about the Task, please visit the IEA Wind TCP webpage.
Task 25 — Design & Operation of Power Systems with Large Amounts of Wind
The aims of this Task are to:
- Provide information to facilitate the highest economically feasible wind energy penetration within electricity power systems worldwide; and
- Analyse and further develop the methodology to assess the impact of wind power on power systems.
The Representative for Task 25 is Assoc. Prof. Damian Flynn (University College Dublin).
For further information about the Task, please visit the IEA Wind TCP webpage.
Task 26 — Cost of Wind Energy
The aim of this Task is to facilitate discussions about the specific costs of wind systems by surveying methods for determining the value of wind energy and assessing methodologies for projecting future wind technology costs.
The Representative for Task 26 is Mr. Greg Bohan (Irish Wind Energy Association).
For further information about the Task, please visit the IEA Wind TCP webpage.
Task 28 — Social Acceptance of Wind Energy Projects
The aims of this Task are to:
- Produce a state-of-the-art report on current knowledge and results on social acceptance of wind power installations, including a list of studies and online library of reports and articles; and
- Establish “Best Practices” and tools for policy makers and planners to reduce project risks due to lack of social acceptance, accelerate time of realisation of projects, accelerate the exploitation of the full potential of wind energy in the concerned countries, and establish strategies and communication activities to improve or to maintain the image of wind power.
The Representative for Task 28 is Prof. Geraint Ellis (Queen's University Belfast).
For further information about the Task, please visit the IEA Wind TCP webpage.
Task 34 — Assessing Environmental Effects (WREN)
The aims of this Task are to:
- Facilitate international collaboration that advances global understanding of environmental effects of offshore and land-based wind energy development; and
- Create a shared global knowledge base and community of practice around research, monitoring and management of the environmental effects of wind energy development.
The Representatives for Task 34 are Ms. Claire Deasy (Brookfield Renewable) and Dr. Gavin Fennessy (Ecology Ireland).
For further information about the Task, please visit the IEA Wind TCP webpage.
Task 36 — Forecasting for Wind Energy
The aim of this Task is to organise international collaboration, among national weather centres and/or large projects with an interest on wind forecast improvements, operational forecaster and forecast users.
The Representatives for Task 36 are Mr. Richard Linger (Cork Institute of Technology) and Dr. Conor Lynch (Cork Institute of Technology).
For further information about the Task, please visit the IEA Wind TCP webpage.
Task 41 — Enabling Wind to Contribute to a Distributed Energy Future
The aim of this Task is to coordinate international research on Distributed Wind (DW) turbine technology, technology development or assessment to allow DW to integrate into future markets, and processes or procedures to support the cost effective development of DW technologies.
The Representatives for Task 41 are Mr. Raymond Byrne (Dundalk Institute of Technology) and Dr. Paul MacArtain (Dundalk Institute of Technology).
For further information about the Task, please visit the IEA Wind TCP webpage.
Task Under Development — Digitalisation of Wind Energy
This Task is under development.
The Representative for Task 43 is Dr. Des Farren (ServusNet Informatics).
Task Under Development — Wind Farm Control
The aim of this Task is to coordinate international research in the field of wind farm flow control. This Task will mainly focus on the control algorithms and technologies, and how they translate into real-world performance gains.
The Representative for this Task is Dr. Breiffni Fitzgerald (Trinity College Dublin).
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