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

Webinar Series

Every Thursday in November

The second annual National Energy Research & Policy Conference will have a thematic focus of Decarbonisation of Ireland’s Heat Sector. This year we plan to deliver the conference via a series of webinars throughout the month of November. SEAI and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) will co-host the webinar series.

Each webinar will last approx. 90-minutes and will consist of focused presentations and a panel discussion, centred on the overall conference theme of Decarbonisation of Ireland’s Heat Sector.

Webinars will take place every Thursday in November from 11am - 12.30pm, starting the 5th.

The purpose of this conference series is 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 the transformation of Ireland’s heat sector will participate in the event. Participating organisations include:

  • 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.

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View 2019's National Energy Research & Policy Conference Highlights

Day 1 - Connecting Research and Policy

Thursday 5th November, 11am - 12.30pm

This opening session will consist 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 will be opened by William Walsh (CEO, SEAI) and Minister Eamon Ryan TD (Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications).

Agenda - Connecting Research and Policy - Thursday 5th November

Agenda - Connecting Research and Policy - Thursday 5th November, 11am - 12.30pm

Session Chair: Jim Scheer, Head of Policy Insights, SEAI

Welcome and Introduction: William Walsh, CEO SEAI

Ministerial Address: Eamon Ryan T.D. Minister for the Environment, Climate & Communications

Presentations

  • Sharon Finegan, Climate Action Unit, Dept. of the Taoiseach
  • Kevin Brady, Department of the Environment, Climate & Communications
  • Ken Cleary, Climate Change Unit, Dept. of Public Expenditure and Reform

Q&A with Presenters

Panel Discussion - Pathways to Heat Sector Decarbonisation

Panel Chair: Dermot Byrne, SEAI Board Chairperson

  • Kevin Brady, Department of the Environment, Climate & Communications
  • Karen Trant, Director, Commission for Regulation of Utilities
  • Donna Gartland, CEO, Codema
  • Muireann Lynch,Senior Research Officer, Economic & Social Research Institute
  • Andrew Moloney, Economist, Department of Business, Enterprise & Innovation
View Presentation Slides

Day 2 - Decarbonising Residential Heat

Thursday 12th November, 11am -12.30pm

Focusing on decarbonising residential heat, this session will include key speaker presentations and conclude with a panel discussion which will address innovation and collaboration for retrofit disruption.

Agenda - Decarbonising Residential Heat - Thursday 12th November

Agenda - Decarbonising Residential Heat - Thursday 12th November, 11am - 12.30pm

Session Chair: Josephine Maguire, National Coordinator - Better Energy, SEAI

Welcome and Introduction

Keynote: Adrian Joyce, Secretary General of the European Alliance of Companies for Energy Efficiency in Buildings (EuroACE)

Presentations

  • Robert Deegan, Department of the Environment, Climate & Communications
  • Elizabeth Kearney, the Energy Team & Dunleer Sustainable Energy Community
  • Seamus Hoyne, Limerick Institute of Technology

Q&A with Presenters

Panel Discussion - Innovation and collaboration for retrofit disruption.

Panel Chair - Declan Meally, Head of Transport & Communities, SEAI

  • Robert Deegan, Department of the Environment, Climate & Communications
  • Seamus Hoyne, Limerick Institute of Technology
  • Marie Coggins, National University of Ireland, Galway
  • Karl Purcell, SEAI Behavioural Economics Unit
  • Elizabeth Kearney, the Energy Team & Dunleer Sustainable Energy Community
  • Sean Armstrong, Dept. of Housing, Local Government & Heritage
View Presentation Slides

Day 3 - International Research and Policy Collaboration

Thursday 19th November, 11am -12.30pm

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

Agenda - International Research and Policy Collaboration - Thursday19th November

Agenda - International Research and Policy Collaboration - Thursday 19th November, 11am -12.30pm

Session Chair: Solène Goy, Research and Technology, SEAI

Welcome and Introduction

Keynote: Jan Rosenow, European Programme Director, the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP)

Presentations

  • James Glynn, MaREI, University College Cork
  • Jerry Murphy, MaREI, University College Cork
  • David Shipworth, University College London & Chair of the IEA USERS TCP

Q&A with presenters

Panel Discussion - Decarbonising heat as a global challenge

Panel Chair: Emer Dennehy, Data & Insights, SEAI

  • Jan Rosenow, Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP)
  • David Shipworth, University College London & Chair of the IEA USERS TCP
  • Aoife Braiden, Geological Survey Ireland
  • Orla Coyle, SEAI

Day 4 - Heat Decarbonisation Challenge: Research Sprint

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

This session will focus on research for the future of heat in Ireland and will include a series of research presentations. We will hear 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 will begin with a keynote presentation from John Fitzgerald, Chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council

Agenda - Heat Decarbonisation Challenge - Research Sprint - Thursday 26th November, 11am -12.30pm

Session Chair: Lucy Corcoran, Research and Technology, SEAI

Welcome and Introduction

Keynote: John Fitzgerald, Climate Change Advisory Council

Presentations - Heat Decarbonisation Challenge - Research Sprint

  • Rory Monaghan, National University or Ireland, Galway
  • Paula Carroll, University College Dublin
  • James McGrath, National University or Ireland, Galway
  • Riccardo Pasquali, GeoServ Solutions
  • David Wall, University College Cork
  • Xavier Dubuisson, XD Consulting
  • Laura Heuston, Sustainability Works
  • Paul O’Sullivan, Munster Technical University

Q&A with presenters

2020 Confernce Series Reflections - Jim Scheer, Policy Insights, SEAI
Conference Close - SEAI
Register here for Heat Decarbonisation Challenge

Guest Speakers

Learn more about our guest speakers who will contribute during the 2020 National Energy Research and Policy Conference online webinar series.

Meet the Speakers

2019 Conference

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