Coleraine man at the helm of company 'keeping the lights on' across Northern Ireland
The man at the helm of the company ‘keeping the lights on’ in Northern Ireland is a Coleraine native.
SONI (System Operator of Northern Ireland) is Northern Ireland's electricity grid operator and its Chief Executive Officer is Alan Campbell.
Alan, who has been featured in the latest edition of Londonderry Chamber of Commerce’s publication Connected, leads a team of around 180 people who are responsible for “ensuring everyone has electricity when they need it”.
"My role is part of the bigger picture of keeping the lights on, planning for the future, and ensuring the system runs securely and efficiently,” said Alan in the interview.
"My role is varied, I help steer the direction of the business and drive forward the future of the electricity grid and decarbonisation goals for the island.
"I work with stakeholders across government and industry and represent SONI at board level.
"We also operate the wholesale electricity market for the island of Ireland, so it’s a role that combines technical responsibility with long-term planning and leadership.”
The north coast man spent 13 years working at Coolkeeragh Power Station “working my way up from team leader to maintenance manager and then plant manager”.
Speaking about the most fulfilling element of his role, Alan said: “For me it’s the wider societal impact of what we do. SONI isn’t just about keeping the grid running – it's about enabling positive change for the environment, for businesses and for communities.
"We’re playing a key role in decarbonising Northern Ireland’s energy system, supporting economic growth, and ensuring those benefits are shared across the region – not just Belfast. It’s exciting to be part of that journey.”