Research to policy briefs
Explore SEAI RDD-funded research outputs translated into concise policy briefs, highlighting key findings, insights and practical recommendations for informed decision-making.
1. Electricity
Projects focused on the generation, transmission, distribution, storage, and use of electrical energy. If the core energy carrier being generated, moved, or managed is electricity, it belongs here.
What Policy Briefs are included:
- Renewable electricity generation
- Electricity networks
- Energy storage
- Demand-side management
- Electrification of end uses
- System integration
Electricity policy briefs
2. Heat
Projects focused on the production, storage, distribution, and use of thermal energy (heating and cooling). If the project primarily relates to heating/cooling or thermal energy demand, it belongs here—even if electricity is involved (e.g. heat pumps).
What Policy briefs are included:
- Heating technologies e.g. heat pumps (when focus is heating performance/retrofit) and boilers
- District heating & cooling
- Industrial heat
- Building energy use e.g. space heating and hot water systems
- Thermal storage e.g. hot water tanks and seasonal thermal energy storage
- Alternative fuels for heat e.g. biomass, biogas, hydrogen (if used for heating purposes)
3. Transport
Projects focused on energy use in the movement of people and goods, including vehicles, fuels, and infrastructure.
What Policy Briefs are included:
- Vehicle technologies
- Alternative fuels
- Charging & refuelling infrastructure
- Transport system efficiency
- Fleet decarbonisation
- Behaviour and mobility
- Heavy transport sectors e.g. Freight, logistics, aviation and maritime decarbonisation
Transport policy briefs
4. Systems, society and innovation
Projects that cut across multiple energy sectors or do not fit within a single category, focusing on the transformation of energy systems and the societal changes needed to enable the transition to a low-carbon future.
What policy briefs are included:
- Energy systems analysis and modelling
- Whole-system modelling (electricity, heat, transport integration)
- Energy scenarios and transition pathways
- Cross-cutting technologies and digitalisation
- Policy and governance
- Behavioural and social research e.g. consumer behaviour, public acceptance and energy citizenship
- Communities and social innovation e.g. just transition and energy equity
- Innovation systems e.g. business models and market innovation