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

Programme Manager - Electricity and Wind Energy

John McCann is Electricity and 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 Electricity and 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 ex-Chair and the current Vice-Chair for Communication of that committee, in which role, along with the Chair, other 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 Task 11 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) and Mr. Abbas Rabiee (SEAI).

For further information about the Task, please visit the Task 25 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 to 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 Representatives for Task 28 is Mr. John Aston (Astoneco).

For further information about the Task, please visit the Task 28 IEA Wind TCP webpage.

Task 30 - Offshore Code Comparison, Collaboration, Continued, with Correlation and unCertainty

The aim of this Task is to validate the tools used to design offshore wind systems. OC6 implements a three-way validation process that compares both the engineering-level modelling tools and higher-fidelity tools to measurement data. The results will be used to help inform the improvement of engineering-level models, and/or guide the development of future test campaigns.

The Representative for Task 30 are Assistant Prof. David Igoe (Trinity College Dublin) and Assistant Prof. Breiffni Fitzgerald (Trinity College Dublin).

For further information about the Task, please visit the Task 30 IEA Wind TCP webpage.

Task 34 — Working Together to Resolve Environmental Effects of Wind Energy

Task 34, known as WREN—Working Together to Resolve Environmental Effects of Wind Energy. Since its inception, WREN has served as the leading international forum for supporting the deployment of wind energy technology around the globe through a better understanding of environmental issues, particularly those related to wildlife, efficient monitoring programs, and effective mitigation strategies (which include avoidance, minimization, and mitigation).

The Representatives for Task 39 are Nicola Largey (MKO Research), Patrick Roberts (MKO Research).

For further information about the Task, please visit the Task 34 IEA Wind TCP webpage.

Task 39 — Quiet Wind Turbine Technology

The aim of this Task is to accelerate the development and deployment of quiet wind turbine technology and consolidate understanding of wind turbine sound emission, propagation, and ultimately its perception by residents. The Task will convene an international expert panel to identify best practices in the prediction, measurement and assessment of noise, as well as investigate regulatory aspects.

The Representatives for Task 39 are Dr. Denis O'Hora (University of Galway), Dr. Jennifer McSharry (University of Galway), Dr Eoin King (University of Galway) and Eugene McKeown (University of Galway).

For further information about the Task, please visit the Task 39 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 Task 41 IEA Wind TCP webpage.

Task 42 — Wind Turbine Life Extension

The objectives of this Task are to coordinate international research activities towards the assessment of the remaining operational life of wind turbines near the end of their certified design life and identification of strategies for extending the end of useful life.

The Representative for Task 42 is Dr. Abdollah Malekjafarian (University College Dublin).

For further information about the Task, please visit the Task 42 IEA Wind TCP webpage.

Task 43 — Digitalisation of Wind Energy

The aim of this Task is to understand the optimal pathways for the adoption of digital technologies such as: data standards and data sharing, machine learning and artificial intelligence, data analytics and visualization, open-source tools, IoT instrumentation.

The Representatives for Task 43 are Dr. Des Farren (ServusNet Informatics) and Mr. Stephen Holleran (Brightwind).

For further information about the Task, please visit the Task 43 IEA Wind TCP webpage.

Task 44 — 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).

For further information about the Task, please visit the Task 44 IEA Wind TCP webpage.

 

Task 45 — Enabling the Recycling of Wind Turbine Blades

The purpose of this Task is to identify and mitigate the barriers to the recycling of wind turbine blades. The Task will focus on three main areas:

  • The technical aspects of recycling wind turbine blades,
  • The analysis of the recycling value chain and its environmental, social and economic impact and,
  • The standards, certification and legislation framing the activities related to recycling wind turbine blades

The Representative for Task 45 is Dr. Paul Leahy (University College Cork) and Peter Deeney (Univeristy College Cork).

For further information about the Task, please visit the Task 45 IEA Wind TCP webpage.

Task 46 — Erosion of Wind Turbine Blades

The aim of this Task is to achieve a better understanding of the key technical challenges in blade erosion. The Task will produce literature surveys, topical reports, recommended practices and models.

The Representatives for Task 46 are Assoc. Prof. Trevor Young (University of Limerick), Dr. William Finnegan (University of Galway) and Dr. Edmond Tobin (South East Technological University).

For further information about the Task, please visit the Task 46 IEA Wind TCP webpage.

Task 48 — Airborne Wind Energy

The aim of this Task is to build a strong community that works together to identify and mitigate the barriers to the development and deployment of airborne wind energy systems. The Task focuses on producing tangible results such as recommended practices that can be used by researchers and practitioners.

The Representatives for Task 48 are Prof. Daniel Toal (University of Limerick) and Dr. Mahdi Ebrahimi Salari (University College Cork).

For further information about the Task, please visit the Task 48 IEA Wind TCP webpage.

Task 49 — Integrated Design of Floating Wind Arrays

This Task aims to accelerate the sustainable commercialization of floating wind arrays.

The Representative for this Task is Gavin & Doherty Geosolutions.

For further information about the Task, please visit the Task 49 IEA Wind TCP webpage.

Task 50 — Hybrid Power Plants

This aim of this Task is to coordinate international research and development in the field of hybrid wind power plants. Technology to be considered within this Task will cover a broad range but will focus on the design and operation of wind-based hybrid power plants.

The Representative for Task 50 is Prof. Nan Zhao (University College Dublin) and Arash Alavi (SEAI).

For further information about the Task, please visit the Task 50 IEA Wind TCP webpage.

Task 51 — Forecasting for the Weather Driven Energy System

This Task will focus on facilitating communication and collaborations among international research groups engaged in the improvement of the accuracy and applicability of forecast models and their utility for the stakeholders in the wind industry, in the power sector and in the energy system.  

The Representative for Task 51 are Prof. Conor Sweeney (University College Dublin), Justin Rutherford (Rutherford Consulting Ltd) and Paul Leahy (University College Cork).

For further information about the Task, please visit the Task 51 IEA Wind TCP webpage.

Task 53 — Wind Energy Economics

The aim of Task 53 is to evaluate cost and value primarily in the context of anticipated deep decarbonization developments and emerging wind energy applications. This Task builds on Task 26 efforts, but it also reflects a considerable change. In this new collaboration, methods development and data collection of new wind applications, plant configurations and operations, and associated uncertainties come into focus.

The Representative for Task 53 is Dr. Fiona Devoy McAuliffe (University College Cork) and Forest Mak (SEAI).

For further information about the Task, please visit the Task 53 IEA Wind TCP webpage.

Archived Tasks

Task 19 — Wind Energy in Cold Climates

The aim of this Task was to improve the large-scale deployment of cold climate wind power in a safe and economically feasible manner.

The Representative for Task 19 was from Siemens Gamesa.

For further information about the Task, please visit the Task 19 IEA Wind TCP webpage.

Task 26 — Cost of Wind Energy

The aims of this Task were to:

  • Provide insights on the future costs of wind energy and factors that could drive costs higher or lower over time,
  • Explore the value components of wind power,
  • And develop and maintains consistent and transparent methodologies and data with the international community.

The Representatives for Task 26 were from University College Cork and IWEA.

For further information about the Task, please visit the Task 26 IEA Wind TCP webpage.

Task 36 — Forecasting for Wind Energy

The aim of this Task was 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 were from Cork Institute of Technology.

For further information about the Task, please visit the Task 36 IEA Wind TCP webpage.

Participate in the Wind TCP

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