• More than 40 new research projects awarded Government funding by SEAI 
• Supporting energy transition researchers from 28 companies and 11 academic or public research bodies 
• The 2023 SEAI National Energy Research Development and Demonstration Funding Programme Call will open for applications in late March 2023 

Monday, 20 March 2023

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland today announced that it has awarded approximately €19 million in Government funding to support more than 40 new energy research projects across Ireland. These projects bring together leading academic institutes, companies, and public sector organisations and were supported with co-funding from the Department of Transport, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and ESB Networks.  

The 2023 Climate Action Plan aims to transform and improve life in Ireland, setting out how Ireland will accelerate action to respond to the climate and energy crisis, with research and innovation central to achieving these goals. Projects awarded today are directly aligned to national energy targets and ambitions and will be central to informing Ireland’s climate action and achievement of our medium to long term climate and energy targets.  

Projects awarded cover a wide range of topics including research investigating, among others: 

• The development of floating offshore wind technologies,  
• Wind farm interactions with hen harriers,  
• Whole-life-cycle energy performance of residential buildings,  
• Realising equality, diversity, and inclusion for energy sector transformation. 

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD said:             

“Research and innovation are crucial to address Ireland’s energy and climate ambitions. The SEAI National Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Funding Programme continues to support our national experts to innovate. Successful projects demonstrate enthusiasm to find solutions to Ireland’s energy needs, to support policy with cutting-edge research outputs and ultimately to accelerate Ireland’s clean energy transition.”   

Speaking on today’s announcement, Margie McCarthy, Director of Research and Policy Insights at SEAI said: 

“SEAI is delighted to support these innovative research projects, which will underpin the next wave of solutions to drive Ireland’s energy revolution. Ireland has proven innovation abilities and we need the insights and learnings that this research will bring to accelerate the decarbonisation of our energy sector.” 

To find out more about projects funded visit the National Energy Research Database.  

For more information, or to arrange an interview, please contact: 

• Laura Daly, Carr Communications: 087 317 1992 / ldaly@carrcommunications.ie or 
• Sophie Popplewell, Carr Communications: 083 402 6572/ sophie@carrcommunications.ie