Future Irish Energy System Observatory (FIESO)

Project Description

Increasing electrification across all sectors, the use of renewables, short-medium and long-term energy storage, green hydrogen and digitalisation are key enablers of the low carbon transition in Ireland. To facilitate understanding and support research in this area, a digital infrastructure under the umbrella of the integrated Future Irish Energy System Observatory (FIESO) will be developed which will allow users to visualise and understand the operation of the energy system in real-time. Furthermore, the observatory will provide a platform for collaboration and the development of future energy profiles for 2030 and beyond for use in granular energy systems models capable of understanding the practical challenges associated with future energy scenarios dominated by renewable energy generation, short-medium and long-term storage and decarbonised building stock, agriculture and transport. This observatory will seek to use existing system dashboards – such as the Eirgrid’s Smart Grid Dashboard, and the Irish Building Stock Observatory (IBSO). Some technologies are not yet commonplace in today’s energy systems and to address this limitation FIESO will integrate scale laboratory-based instances of these technologies which are not yet deployed including a floating offshore wind turbine, energy storage and hydrogen in development a Lir Laboratory.