Energy Research
Connecting agendas
16/12/2009
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Current global and local energy trends are not sustainable
•2007 White Paper “Towards A Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland”: Security;
Sustainability and Competitiveness
•2010: 15% of electricity consumption by renewable energy; 30% (now 40%)
penetration by 2020
interfaces
•Need for an energy sustainable water infrastructure, need to deal with major
waste problems (resources!)
•Sustainable production and consumption
•Green new deal
•Climate change – carbon tax, mitigation funds….
•Technological advances are key enablers of energy policy
•Development, evaluation and deployment of new energy and
environmental technologies essential
2
Europe out in the cold over natural gas supply
Dependence on Russia for energy likely to be a sore
point for years February 17, 2009
1 Feb 2006 ... “America is addicted to oil,
which is often imported from unstable
parts of the world,”
In 2008 $8.4Bn was invested in energy
and water tech - 2020 $5.3Tr – 25% in
water
3
Goals of ERC in December 2007
• Consolidate/strengthen NUI, Galway’s research in key areas
• Develop strengths in a coordinated way
• Respond to changing research landscape by targeting efforts
across related, but distinct energy production, conversion and
societal impact foci
• Develop common issues at local and national level
• Increase visibility of research area to attract top quality postgraduate students, support new undergraduate programmes
• Contribute to the University mission
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NUI, Galway - ECI
Research Support
Institutional Research
Strategy
Educational Mission
Economic and
Regional Goals
Academic Infrastructure
National and EU
Energy Policy
ERC: Integration
Strategic Needs
Consolidation,
Capacity Building
Resources
Research excellence
4th Level training
International profile
Policy/Society
Science Engineering/
Technology
Regional Economic
Development
Sustainability
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Large-scale multi- and
inter-disciplinary
projects
Synergies: contribute to
ECI, MRI and NUI, Galway
strategic development
National Platforms
ERC
Wind and Ocean
Utilisation
Distribution
Resources
Individual and
Medium-scale
projects: SFI,
EPA, SEI, etc
Conversion
Coordinated, efficient response
Power Control Systems
Bioenergy
Sustainable
Materials
Modelling
Energy and Buildings
Behaviour Law and Policy Economics
Greater
quality and
Significance
of Research
Efficient
technologies
Cross-cutting activities:
Greater
visibility and
Impact
Research Infrastructure,
Outreach, Visibility
6
Energy Research Centre Thematic areas
• Bioenergy
• Renewable Resources
• Energy Efficient Technologies
www.nuigalway.ie/energy
• Energy and Society
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Progress
• Improved communication
• Strong performance in funding rounds including large-scale initiatives such as the
Biorefining and Biorenergy Competence Centre;
SRC applications; PRTLI, etc
• University profile and identity increased –
greater impact and opportunity
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Goal: a University-wide initiative in
Energy
• Improved understanding and communication at the key interface
between society, economy and science/engineering and
technology.
• Link current and planned activities and centres/institutes
• Ideas on aids to delivering real links – structured PhD
programmes, etc
• Specific Targets for 2010: FP7 – CKI and others?
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