Excellence in Energy Research and Innovation
Have you been involved in an innovative energy research project that has contributed to Ireland’s clean energy future? The winner will receive a €10,000 bursary prize.
About the Award
SEAI are seeking applications from organisations that have researched and developed innovative energy-related technologies, processes or systems, which will contribute significantly to Ireland’s clean energy transition.
Who should apply?
Applications are welcome from companies, 3rd level educational bodies, public sector bodies and semi-state bodies involved in impactful energy research and innovation.
Previous project finalists under this category include:
Retrokit
RetroKit is a software company producing digital tools to support the energy upgrading of housing stock. Beginning as a research project, a range of software tools have been developed and commercialised, and are now used by Local Authorities and Sustainable Energy Communities. RetroKit tools model the current energy performance of residential housing stock and run energy retrofit scenarios on the data. Thorough research at the proof-of-concept stage moved the project from theory to practice. The result is a concrete tool with a successful business model. RetroKit commercialised 3 products within 5 years on a relatively small budget. A great example of a small company’s ambition to develop new products and processes that can be used more widely across the sector. If successful in this award, the bursary will go towards the development of the software tools (e.g. API integration or artificial intelligence capabilities); they also plan to use the bursary to develop a social housing body long term renovation roadmap and integrate it with tools produced by the World Green Building Council.
ORE group MaREI UCC
The Offshore Renewable Energy Group, in the MaREI research centre at University College Cork, coordinated a Horizon 2020 project, MaRINET2, over 5 years. The MaRINET2 project comprised 53 facilities across Europe. These facilities test marine energy devices and include test tanks, wind tunnels, field test sites, component test facilities, and other cross-cutting research facilities. This project has supported collaboration and shared learnings to strengthen the marine renewable energy industry. This is a crucial enabler to decarbonising the global economy. If they win the award, the bursary will go towards a significant conference open to the public to showcase the excellent work coming out of this project. Another action they envision is to formalise the educational programme which they piloted in Ireland and Portugal.
The UCD Centre for Mechanics and the QUANT Group
The UCD Centre for Mechanics and the QUANT Group at the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, collaborate on the WindPearl research project. These two research groups came together to address the challenges and opportunities around Ireland's wind turbine operations and maintenance (O&M). This project aims to improve and optimise the O&M of onshore wind farms through e-deep analytics. Their work has demonstratively enabled Ireland’s thought leadership on this topic. Throughout the project, the team have also established collaborations with several organisations worldwide. If successful in this award, the bursary will fund summer schools and internships. These opportunities will have a particular focus on working with wind energy data. Their goal is to further the significant research already underway.
Dublin Offshore
Dublin Offshore is developing a load reduction device for the floating offshore wind market. The load reduction device uses buoyancy and weight to reduce mooring loads and enable cost reductions. The project demonstrates how marine technology can be delivered quickly and at low cost, availing of Ireland’s extensive testing and support infrastructure.
GlasPort Bio Ltd
GlasPort Bio is a SME based in Galway that has developed a solution to allow greater use and reuse from perceived waste agricultural materials. Their GasAbate product is added to stored slurry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase biogas production following Anaerobic Digestion. The product has the potential to reduce national emissions and enhance the renewable energy output of slurry.
Sustainable & Resilient Structures Research Group, MaREI Centre, Ryan Institute & School of Engineering, NUI Galway
The Sustainable & Resilient Structures Research Group developed a state-of-the-art structural testing facility for tidal turbine blades. As the tidal energy sector strives for commercial viability, this facility takes away the risk in the development of its’ technologies. Following testing campaigns, operational trials have commenced in Alaska and Scotland. The Research Group is made up of a multi-disciplinary diverse team that are working at the cutting edge of sustainable energy research.
Application guidelines
- Please submit your application online by 5pm Friday 7th July.
- You are eligible to apply under more than one category. Simply follow the online guidelines and copy and paste your application to a new category and amend your answers as appropriate.
- Please ensure all mandatory fields are completed before you hit submit.
- Please complete the 'Data' section to the best of your ability.
- Once you submit, you can still edit your application up to the deadline date.
- Please keep attachments to 5MB or less.
- Shortlisted applications will be announced in August.