This conference series aims to facilitate discussion on the role of energy research and policy in achieving Ireland’s long term clean energy goals.

Thursday 25th November, 2021

Online Conference

2021 National Energy Research & Policy Conference - Decarbonising Transport

Registration now Open!

This is the third annual National Energy Research & Policy Conference. It aims to facilitate discussion on the role of energy research and policy in achieving Ireland’s long term clean energy goals. This year the conference aims to discuss the challenges, key research, policy and innovative solutions to deliver ambitious decarbonisation targets in the transport sector.

This year's National Energy Research and Policy Conference will take place on Thursday the 25th of November 2021 with a thematic focus of decarbonising transport.

Further information, including the full conference agenda will be announced shortly. An outline agenda can be found below.

Register here
TimeSession
9.00 - 11.00

Opening Plenary: Connecting Research & Policy
11.30 - 13.00 Transport Decarbonisation Challenge: Research Sprint
12.45 - 13.15 Breakout & networking session
14.00 - 16.00

Closing Session: Sustainable solutions for transforming transport

This national conference aims to:

  1. facilitate discussion on the role of energy research and policy in achieving Ireland’s long-term clean energy goals.
  2. ensure that energy policy development and implementation is informed by the best scientific advice possible.
  3. ensure researchers are aware of current and future energy policy priorities.

2020 Conference

Decarbonisation of Ireland's Heat Sector

The second annual National Energy Research & Policy Conference had a thematic focus of Decarbonisation of Ireland’s Heat Sector. We delivered the conference via a series of webinars throughout the month of November. SEAI and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) co-hosted the webinar series.

Each webinar was approx. 90-minutes and consisted of focused presentations and panel discussions, centred on the overall conference theme of Decarbonisation of Ireland’s Heat Sector.

Senior speakers from many of the key research, policy and industry organisations involved in leading the transformation of Ireland’s heat sector participated in the event. Participating organisations included:

Policy making/supporting organisations, such as the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI); the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC); the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform (DPER), the Department of the Taoiseach; Department of Housing, Planning and local Government (DHPLG) and the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU)
Research Institutions/organisations, such as Limerick Institute of Technology, NUI Galway, University College Cork and University College Dublin.

Thursday 5th November, 11am - 12.30pm

This opening session consisted of focused presentations and a panel discussion, centred on the theme of Connecting Research and Policy for Decarbonisation of Ireland’s Heat Sector. The session was opened by William Walsh (CEO, SEAI) and Minister Eamon Ryan TD (Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications).

View Presentation Slides    Watch the recording -> password: ResearchConference0511

Thursday 12th November, 11am -12.30pm

Focusing on decarbonising residential heat, this session included key speaker presentations and concluded with a panel discussion which addressed innovation and collaboration for retrofit disruption.

View Presentation Slides    Watch the recording

Thursday 19th November, 11am -12.30pm

International research and policy collaboration to accelerate decarbonisation of Ireland’s heat sector was discussed by guest speakers, including national experts who participate in the International Energy Agency Technology Collaboration Programmes (IEA TCP).

View Presentation Slides    Watch the recording -> password: InternationalResearchPolicy2020

Thursday 26th November, 11am - 12:30pm

This session focused on research for the future of heat in Ireland and included a series of research presentations. We heard from leading energy researchers, showcasing their research projects, research interests and their contribution towards accelerating heat decarbonisation in Ireland in a 'research sprint' format. The session began with a keynote presentation from Prof John FitzGerald, Chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council.

View Presentation Slides    Watch the recording -> password: ResearchSprint2020

2019 Conference

Transformation of Ireland's Electricity Sector

SEAI and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (DCCAE) co-hosted the first annual National Energy Research & Policy Conference in November 2019. The thematic focus of the conference was the Transformation of Ireland’s Electricity Sector. The conference was Chaired by Dr Phil Hemmingway (Head of Low Carbon Technologies, SEAI) and opened by William Walsh (CEO, SEAI) and Minister Richard Bruton (Minister for Communications, Climate Action & the Environment).

The purpose of the conference was to:

  • facilitate discussion on the role of energy research and policy in achieving Ireland’s long term clean energy goals.
  • ensure that energy policy development and implementation is informed by the best scientific advice possible.
  • ensure researchers are aware of current and future energy policy priorities.

Senior speakers from many of the key research, policy and industry organisations involved in leading transformation of Ireland’s electricity sector participated in the event. Participating organisations included:

  • Policy making/supporting organisations, such as the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI); the Department of Communications, Climate Action & the Environment (DCCAE); the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform (DPER), the Department of the Taoiseach; and the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU)
  • Research Institutions/organisations, such as UCD, UCC, NUIG, TCD, IERC and the ESRI
  • Industry organisations, such as ESB, EirGrid, SSE and Smart Wires

The conference was fully booked and a strong attendance from organisations in the research, policy & industry sections of the electricity sector ensured varied and interesting high-quality discourse throughout the day.

The following five high-level key messages were discussed throughout the conference.

  1. The Climate Action Plan commits Ireland to significant targets and ambitions for the electricity sector
  2. Onshore wind, offshore wind and grid-scale solar energy are expected to contribute the majority of Ireland’s increase in renewable electricity generation in the period 2020 to 2030
  3. Energy Research & Innovation are critical enablers of Ireland’s electricity system decarbonisation ambitions.
  4. Energy policy in Ireland will undergo a rapid, continual and significant evolution during the period 2020 to 2030
  5. The transformation of Ireland’s electricity system brings with it many significant research and policy questions and opportunities