The Veolia team fueling Ireland’s data centre expansion

0:00Welcome back to our People Podcast where we connect our people to our purpose. And in today's episode I am speaking to our colleague in Ireland, Brian Curtis. Brian is a general manager at the Oliya Energy Services Island and joins me from our brand new Energy Centre in Clondalkin, a village on the outskirts of Dublin. In this packed episode, Brian and I discuss what and most importantly, who it takes to power the energy centres that in turn power the data centres of some of the biggest social media companies in the world. So sit back, relax and enjoy. To start us off, Brian, can you tell us a little bit about this energy centre and what makes it such an important site for the Oliya. And for anyone who may be less familiar with this world, how would you describe what the site

1:04actually does in simple terms? Well Beth, the Oliya Energy is a long-standing leader in Ireland's facility and energy management sectors and the Oliya has specialised in the critical utilities in the pharmaceutical, medical devices, food and beverage and as well as the semi-conductors to an extent as well. And in the pharmaceutical industry, that's where we have tablets and vaccines that most people use for medication. So when we looked at this, we leveraged the deep experience or the expertise that the Oliya has successfully expanded into what is the data centre market now. And this all came about following a strategic pursuit led by Paul McCarty and business development. The Oliya had secured a major operation and maintenance contract. It was secured in Q4 2025 for a 200 megawatt energy centre in Dublin. So an energy centre is the supply of the utilities that lead into data centre. So on this site there are four data centres which hold the information

2:09that the you know, our media or phones and all of the immediate devices we use. So it's critical that that has maintained on what we call 24, 7, 3, 6, 5 continuous monitoring. So what is this energy centre? It's 200 megawatts of power that we send if you're like we make it here and we send it across the data centre. So if you're like where manufacturers of high energy electricity. So the facility, it's a power generating plant designed to provide 200 megawatts of dedicated power. The production process is a high efficiency cycle consisting of five stages. You have the primary generation where we have 10 fuel turbines and these turbines are powered by an after-wagass and there's a backup system which is diesel as in the diesel you have. So either the gas or the diesel, the drive the generators and the generator provide the plant core electrical output.

3:13Now from these generators, the 10 units we also have was known as secondary generation which is the steam turbine. So the steam here powers two additional steam turbines and we generate electricity from the recovered heat of these plants. So we are very much environmental and cast aware, especially nowadays with the oil market where it is. So there are a heat recovery generators and these are high temperature, their high temperature exhaust gases produce high pressure steam ensuring that no energy is wasted. So the optimum energy efficiencies are used here. After that, we've got cooling and recycling. Once the steam passes through the turbines, it is cooled back into water through air cooled condensers and recirculators as condensed water and and this repeats the cycle. So we then have two types of power and plant. One is from the National Grid or the SB as

4:18we call it learned and the outside generation is actually the gas turbines and the recovery and the heat recovery steam generation. So that's hopefully explained some of what this plant is here. It does Brian because I was listed within 10 because I'm trying to imagine and visualize it. Can I clarify what I heard there that you are running a data energy site and you said it's sustainable. So are you creating that energy for the data energy sites or are you working on the data energy site and almost that total waste management piece of reusing and putting it back in just to help me understand. So we create the power on our site and if you like we send it across the fence to the Ford data centers we use it. So we're supplying them with the power to protect them to keep the data centers going. So in playing terms and I'm not sure if this is right analogy but if you look at your jet plane

5:22you know the we go on a halt is on a plane you look out the window and it has four engines to an each side. So what we've got is taking that engine and put it into a box and produce electricity out the other end and all of the energy to have it operational this steam site we're taking that and sending it back around another generator and producing more electricity so we're getting twice the value for one operation if that makes sense it doesn't get you know wasted up to chimney stack and gone into into the environment. Yeah yeah you are utilizing one element of a process to continue to then make sure that nothing goes to waste and then we do we generate we send that back over the fence and in turn we are helping to provide power to the data energy centers whom we work in with. Yes that is correct yes. Okay see Brian I am listening with intent because it's absolutely fascinating what you are doing and we're going to apply you over here as one of our

6:25operators because you know exactly what happens okay. I am coming over to Ireland I'm coming over so you mentioned the clients that you're working with so you said that there are pharmaceutical who else was it Brian? So we have pharmaceutical and we have food and beverage you know your tins of yogurt your you know tins of peas and you have the the pines of the certain thing I caught at Morpheus people in Tobrancolic in this but you have those so we're in all the doors places and you know we've learned that and developed that technology with these companies over in over years and now we're bringing that across the fence and adapting it into the data centers so we're not starting with all how are we going to run this we already have proved systems and we all year to do that. Right okay so there's a bigger picture here isn't there with the evolution of where we're at today and the growth of technology that is in use so can you talk to me a bit about that Brian about the bigger picture and and how is it that what you work on in your expertise and the

7:25wider team in the data energy centers because of the demand for these data centers that we know uses so much energy power water where does a site like what you do sit in terms of the energy supply and that long-term resilience because we know that that's only going to keep growing. So from the early perspective the early is quite a large company in our UK and in Worldwide but we're we have done a complete a lot of work in the farmer particularly in the farmer's side and really what we look we sat down to look at this the success that we've gained from from all of the crujuts and the expertise that we have in the farmer's studio and and the food and beverage companies we said right why not just adapt that instead of start to scratch and say we're going to do we said how about a sec we're using steam we're using water we're using compressed air we're using heating and cool water system so what we use them in the farmer as well so we've taken what we

8:28developed there and brought it over to here yes we've had to adapt to this energy center but straight away we came in ahead of maybe others in the data center energy who would not have that critical utilities experience and I think that's possibly one of the reasons why you all here are now looking at you'll pick the energy centers part data centers as a way forward I look at it as say 30 years ago maybe more 40 years ago farmer's studio I grew up in that new industry and now I see it at my late age that this is a new sector a new beginning for for people I suppose where where the only is quite large company the energy sector which but I handle there's also other core divisions like the water division and the waste so there is opportunities for us in the oil at the water side for how you efficiency heating and cooling systems and also in the ways because waste covers the

9:31you know it's a couple ends the way to remove an environmental sustained initiatives we now can offer to our client three options rather than just the one of the energy so I think that's where Vioria in Ireland has an advantage with this particular sector to have energy yeah yeah it's not just about the energy for the data centers it all feeds into the elements is that what I'm hearing that actually we can provide much more services because we've got experience where over the years we've learned lessons we've worked with big farmers where it's critical production I know that that's critical isn't it for the output that they're creating and how much energy that creates so there's lots of lessons learned and lots of resources available is that right yeah we're quite an average number here and we've used as we can talk about how the team has been later but we would use some of our experience and because we have the numbers we can take key people and bring them in to set up the structure and we can also we have a gradual program here in Ireland that we

10:35train Gredges and it's an opportunity for these people coming up to a new industry even though they were trained in say pharmaceutical and so Vioria has quite a diverse area to choose from and yeah it's certainly not many companies can do it outside of Vioria. And on that note Brian it's a fantastic point because this podcast is all about people this is our people podcast where we bring the stories to life or any amazing work so let's talk about the team behind the site that you're bringing to life for us today what kind of people have you needed to bring this project to life and what has it been like building that team from the ground up. So the team we the team of 21 people unsaid and I suppose working alongside McGrinnum and talent engineers like Midi Akuri and Anthony Flanagan who the two lads have more than 10 years experience in Vioria so we brought them in and

11:38empowered them to make how they would see the way forward who did make changes and Mc is like myself fellow who should probably hang up his boots at this stage but because a lot of knowledge that that we're and I suppose I was out to a certain extent can pass on to younger generation and hopefully they don't make the mistakes we've done because we've seen them beforehand but what's like a successful rugby or football squad we try even a blend of I'm going to call it experience energy and passion and we place a high value on actually empowering individuals to take ownership and see that their road and countless develops as you know each single week as we we get forward around because when you I found over my years when you give somebody a challenge to do and they do it their way they're not going to come back and tell you it doesn't work because they're putting their ideas in and it also makes my life a bit easier than I'm going to try and tell them what to do every day. Please don't say hanging your boots up Brian have you not seen a over 50s talent

12:44of how much we need that in the business and how appreciated that is. If you if you talk from my wife she says keep out there we're not coming home eight hours a day it's not so there's a yeah rugby as the old story goes as I speak say look you stick with it for as long as you enjoy it and they don't enjoy this time then to go so this has been an enjoyable experience and this particular plant because we're starting with it you know a clean page so to speak. Yeah and you know you've you've just acknowledged that and brought that to life wouldn't be there Brian because there is five generations of workforce in in workforce is now that hasn't been it hasn't been this way before so you've got one end of the spectrum like yourself and your wonderful colleagues you've mentioned with the vast experience like you've said lessons learned and going back to when you introduce data energy sites and going back to when you introduced the data energy solutions that you're providing that's only going to keep growing isn't it and like

13:46you've said you're not trying to start something or reinvent a wheel here because you've been there done that you're using existing skills but inviting new people with different perspectives so talking about that and staying with with the team who and you've mentioned some of them but what sort of skills and experience do people like those that you've mentioned today need to work in an environment like this thinking about all of the forever constant changes that going on and have some of those people like yourselves or newer individuals come from similar sectors or if they come from different industries does that matter in this environment? On site as there were 21 people, 12 of these are on a ship cycle so they come in in the morning at the middle of the clock and they work through to 1900 and the next ship's like it takes over at 1900 and runs on to seven the next morning so you've three on each ship and they are supported by a dating which

14:47would consist of a you know electrical mechanical and instrumentation support with the health and safety administration staff so the the ship continues right through I'm going to call it the day cycle and on touch below us but while while they're working the night shift the weekend shift the evening shift the support is there from our own team on site and structure within Viole is that there is a site Lee or a ship Lee that he has a structure to follow and if he has you know a query or one support he rings the uncalled Viole a person who's either you know mechanical electrical or our management and in turn they decide do we need to go to the service can we wait to take this piece of kit offline and wait for the following day to fill the maintenance or is it urgent that you know we have to get in a specialist immediately so there is that support and if you look at

15:50the way Viole is structured so you have the first line of management which is you know if you like the surprise in management my site and then it goes on to our general manager who if one of us pays to take the call it goes to that general manager and he in turn if for whatever reason he's at a full palm match or he's out on the shopping and he's not able to take the call it goes to our director in Fergus Elbert so the structure is very clear and we've adapted that from Pharma over to I'm going to call the data centers again and that that is I think given some reassurance to the data center you know trying to once know how we have done it before so you know we're there's good supporter the team is actually quite diverse we've got people who are from you could say the United Nations we people from Ireland we've Scotland, Portugal, Tunisia, India, Malaysia and Brazil and why do we have this many people well the type of maintenance that we do is mechanic an electrical is similar to a ship so in ship we've a marine engineer and a marine engineer can't

16:52very well call up somebody and say oh yeah problem you know what we do he's got a he's out the scene he's got to do it so I found that sometimes you need this type of engineer who thinks himself uses what he can and there's got to support from from our backup team or can handle over two days shift in the morning so we've uttered that because it's you know we've electricity that goes from low voltage to 400 volts up to high voltage of you know 20 KBE to kilovolts and then 23 kilovolts so we've had to get experts from the electrical I've got to call network and distribution and generation so it's new to us and really here for those type of people because we don't do anything with the grid certain you know the national electricity board so we've found these people come in and take up the role there were previous service engineers in other countries so we're adapting to the marketplace from those people who are doing it for many years outside of

17:56Ireland are they that energy center people somewhere and some armed who were training the people who aren't to become that are said to operators and technicians so that's where our team is comfortable so it's a very diverse team with lots of different skills and what I hear there is that you've got people who have got tons of experience and actually you recognise as gaps here because we haven't done this before so we need that expertise to come in and I'm sure assuming everyone will be learning from one another because is this industry now ever evolving Brian because of the scale of work would that be fair to think that yeah as well as if we look at okay we're talking about one centren there's a number of centres around but the Irish government instills legislation quarter four maybe December of 25 that stayed all new planning applications all new data centers have to have their own form of energy because what was happening was

19:00the demand and the network was too great for and amount of people in other industry so we're now just the first centrens to do that in Ireland so it gives the oil a lead to develop it and go to the next one and put it into operation because we've learned it from here so there is a very much an opportunity it's a growing industry and you look at that as centres in the UK yeah it's going to be in Spain as another one comes up to mind in Europe and certainly in the US so we can actually feed into violia UK and and violia europe particularly in France and say here's our experience and you know this is the potential way of doing it so violia will gain both locally nationally and internationally from from a new industry feel like because Brian is it right that this is the first of its kind what you and the team are doing in Ireland yes is the first one that violia have won a contract in is the first centre that this actually started to be

20:03get built two years ago so legislation every news coming down the line and this particular claim that we work for was ahead of that and said yeah where where I want to do it anyway because there is cost savings for themselves as well instead of going off a network there is the option that isn't used but you could feed back if you know like people get solar panels in their house and they use it for their electricity but they can also hold the battery and upload it to the network that's possible for people in houses it could also be done on this centre but because they're expanding on to put another data centre they have seen that the power they need will be used by themselves in the future so their future proofing as well with the particular area so again violia will will take that knowledge into the next job that we get our the next project for data centres you're the trailblazers Brian you're going to be imparting all your lessons learned and i'm sure that you have riding those waves and that will be able to help shape and preserve

21:08and and create so much energy in the future because i don't think we can underestimate just the amount of power that we use in as a society can we? no it's quite serious and i suppose we keep riding those waves until it's somebody and to weave a hole in the boat but you know we at the moment it's our goal and the wind is behind this so yes yeah it's at very it's a great opportunity for younger people in in violia and particularly in our team because they are going to be the leaders in two to three years time when the next wave comes in it's a great opportunity for violia to to increase their dominance of utilities and they are very good at critical utilities and when you're saying it's great opportunities what roles for people who are listening to this who this just isn't a normal part of their world that they've not spoken or considered what it takes to work on a site like this what are the skills because we've heard engineers so if someone was thinking that's something i'm really

22:12interested in passionate about what kind of roles would you be looking for in one of the data energy sites? so we'd absolutely look for engineers and technicians so if you're if you're an apprentice who served their time in boat mechanical or electrical are you going to a HND or you've got this level you know seven level eight there is great opportunity and even if you're not into engineering and you do engineering you can come across and do the operations because operations is where you've got if you like computer screen for one to a world of all use that you know opening and closing systems and you're checking the monitoring of analyzers and what way the flows are and can you open and close and decrease flows so for people who are computer minded and a lot of people are that's a role it's an operator's role but it is still a little bit role and you know you have four days on and you four days off and you four nights on and four nights off that's so some people so there is it's not just do I have to be an engineer or

23:13do I have to be a fitter or electrician there are other roles for operators just also the health and safety you know we would have a safety officer on site there's also facility management because with the buildings you're still in pest control you're still in air conditioning you still have you know the normal stuff so it's certainly a way forward it's probably where we are now we're starting off what pharmaceutical was as I mentioned 30 years ago and now look what pharmaceutical is it's coming quite near to peak and that's what I think you all you have gone ahead and say what is can we be looking at while we're still gonna stay and I think for young people listening you know looking data centers look at what's needed and follow the internet and there are college courses than there's plenty of opportunities for them it is something for the future to look at it's a really nice plug there for people to think about that I can't read like we've said it bro and can't reiterate it enough can we just we we look at the advancement in technology and AI and we know that that uses data that uses power the sites that you're serving they they don't stop their 24

24:16seven so that's what I'm hearing is your team our team members at these sites need to be operating on that shift structure to to continue to drive it it just never stops even when a lot of us can go home and go to bed yeah it's but you look at it the same as the you know the emergency services fire brigade nurses you know they're 24 seven and it's it's that critical they have a critical for life and and for society we have a critical to keep power going so that people can use their phones can use their data that they're taken down so you know we don't think we do anything different here we'd probably to someone I would say yes we do but you know I think nurses and doctors and so on to an accepting job but they probably think hey that's that's my job that's what I do and and we look at this energy center utility to critical to this is being able to do it every day it's kind of just a job but it's also something that we can see and we can make improvements for cost saving and you know we look at the world at the more where the oil is

25:17is is a problem that affects us here on this site and you don't have because we store four times of you know 300 meters cubed of diesel yet buying that and price so you're also involved in the world if you like oil market as well so it's it's a job where we like and we do and what does it mean we'd be fascinating yeah it's a Brian we have spoken a lot about just how technical important the work is that you are doing we've spoken about your team and the experiences required and the and the different generations and the people who are making it happen what in your opinion and your experience has been the most important thing in getting the site and the team ready for this next stage that we are in now and as you've been going through and continue to go through that process what have you enjoyed the most about being a part of it good question the transition from construction to operations is a critical phase and we're aligning the design commissioning

26:25and and if you like personal readiness or the operation readiness for the view of your team that's meant kind of mastering new equipment new technology complex systems and to ensure that there's a seamless handle from the construction the people who built the plant into us who were operating I suppose drawing on on my long standing industrial experience or old age maybe put in bluntly it folks that are building a culture of continuous learning because watching the teams come to survive as they become experts in technology has been the most rewarding part of the process as was was started four months ago but as a collection of separate puzzle pieces to design equipment and the people has been assembled into a you know I consider a high functioning integrated energy center with people who are confident about the do I suppose that that's

27:29probably the main thing from from Moisa Ilhanash so you you've enjoyed you are enjoying or have enjoyed the most saying that the growth from the team and the advancements in in people's skills and what it is that you've done from four months ago to today yeah to be fair to be all we spend a lot of time on looking at courses and training and you know developing our team and see also what you put in you take out if you if you do your training you can run yeah it's it's that to me is the it's not just the job for the for team members it's interest it's it's they come in to do a job and go home and know that they've done something whatever they feel that it's it's worthwhile in in satisfaction I suppose is the key for you know if you're doing your job yourself really it makes job much easier and there's a good camaraderie train all the different people as well because you you need if you're missing one piece of a jigsaw it's a gap you know we're

28:31fortunate or lucky or there's a good team down that that's key 20 any job and include a good team that works together you are trailblazers in this space and I'm sure that there could be a team handbook on on what this could look like now is this this knowledge and lessons learned they start to cascade into like you said across the seas to various different theolia zones so as we start to look ahead and if that is the potential of where theolia is going and then they'll come to yourselves to say how do we do this what what what can you share with us do you believe that this is the beginning for theolia in this space and does this feel like the start of something that's much bigger for the business yeah our intent here the team and you know the the support from head office that's brought us to this level we've always said we are going to set a structure here and we're gonna I don't like using the word copy but we're going to transform from the previous

29:36while it's best in I'm bringing it yeah maybe the world is copy what's done like why would you redesign so we see that the model that's now unsight and it's nearly complete we've got a more rough edges to do we would take that model with the structure that's inside and it be at the documentation be at the compliance and the heads and safety and you know the volume in our requirements that we can actually lift that out of here and put it in the next you know job orders in our door Dublin or leads or Midlisborough or Valencia in Spain and yeah you you will have to change the tagging but the basis of it is the same you know so I think we the next time I'm not B.D. and up is a development but our business development team can say hold on we've actually done that here this is a model we can bring over and it'll always over tell us but they can you have this up running in two days well it's in our personal exaggeration but something that I think we're fully aware as we go through this that it has to be reproduced

30:40in in another site that we don't have to start from scratch again there is a lot of data centers being built in urban as we mentioned in in Spain and in the UK as well so I think viola have come across a potential model that can be utilized in critical utility sector in data centers yeah building a blueprint and Brian as we come to close our conversation together today that has been so informative and I'm so excited to see how these progresses and you know we'll reflect back on this conversation and I'm sure in six months or a years time we'll go look at where we are now because of the scale and the pace of change I'd like to come back to you and think about when you look at what's been built here starting from scratch and having to build that blueprint what are you most proud of building a building a team and you know bringing that team

31:43forward like that's that's probably in the privilege to build a team alongside the legs of Mick and Medi and Anthony as I said and seeing the system that we developed probably become as you mentioned the flagship for viola is entry into the data center market and that's probably a testament to the team's hard work and expertise we weren't just drafting a project we were probably launching a new era for business of viola and I suppose I couldn't be more excited about where we're going to go from here because it is you know a future that we're ahead of there's an even opposition there at the moment you know I can see that that question meant a lot to you there if I'm right in observing that Brian for people who are listening I can see you because we're recording this virtually but I see how much you meant that answer that how much the team means to you

32:44yeah yeah did you know what you were going into when you did you just you answering that question now and saying you didn't think actually we'd be building the flagship did you know did you recognise that at the time when you first started or is that knowing hindsight looking back um I suppose I have I had been a general manager in viola for a number of sites in the south of Ireland and this was a challenge that I suppose Fergus the director and of energy said to me take on I looked and I'm weird to get back into projects they spent probably a year's in projects of where I joined the audience and it was you know everything is you know it was great to get it to this stage but the support and the uh involvement of the gene was excellent and that makes it easy but as well as I didn't know what I was getting into but yeah it's certainly it's like everything you you you you don't look at where the problems are you wait from to arrive

33:47and then you have to deal with them but look it's it's it's been great the team is excellent everything revolves around the team for sure yeah yeah it's a skill in itself that Brian to lead a project and such a big one like they so well done to you all and and thank you so much for joining us today and for sharing your story and bringing to life what is going on that many of us aren't familiar with but we can we can help educate ourselves and you know what you do on that bigger scale impacts all of us we all use power and so you really help bring that to life today Brian thank you very much thank you bed has been a pleasure and I hope that it will help some people to get into something new in their career absolutely thanks again very appreciate it absolutely thank you Brian and a huge thank you for all of our listeners who have tuned in with us today please do not forget to hit that follow button so you never miss an episode of our series and we'd also love

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