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IERC Newsletter, Edition 6, March 2016
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Newsletter
August 2016

Director's Introduction

The IERC continues to develop a vibrant and diverse research portfolio, with a range of new and prospective industry partners. Our pipeline projects focus on some of the key areas of change in the energy system, notably around smart electricity grids, energy storage, low carbon heating and engaging the citizen. The partners involved all see real transformative opportunities for their businesses with new market opportunities in Ireland and abroad.

In order to widen our reach the IERC launched a defined call for expressions of interest around three research topics – low carbon heat solutions, ventilation strategies for retrofit buildings, and engaging the energy citizen through smart meters. These are three challenge areas that have been highlighted as significant national priorities to the IERC, and they present real opportunities for industry-led solutions. We are looking for ambitious and innovation-minded consortia to work with us to help deliver some ground breaking projects.

As we move ahead with new research activities, the IERC is also continuing to shape the energy system discourse in Ireland through its annual conference (see news item on the IERC Conference 2016 below) and engagement with national initiatives. Examples of these include contributions to the Engineers Ireland State of Ireland 2016 report, and the Irish Green Building Council’s Build Upon project, both of which have important perspectives on the need for transforming the energy system and building stock in Ireland.

The IERC was also involved in the consultations for the recently published report of the Energy Research Strategy Group. We particularly welcome the recommendations for strengthening funding and national strategic direction for energy research in Ireland.
 
In May I was elected Chair of Energy Cork. This unique cluster of industry and public organisations provides a powerful voice for all aspects of the energy sector. It provides a platform for knowledge sharing, and is developing a range of initiatives to promote sustainable energy and new thinking. Since its inception, it has certainly raised the profile of the energy industry in the region, and the IERC is delighted to strengthen its involvement and help shape its future.
 
Tony Day,
Executive Director
Contents

Research Showcase:
Expert MV Project

In March 2016 the IERC in partnership with United Technologies Research Center and Bilfinger HSG Ireland Group launched its first  Type 2 collaborative project, under the IERC collaboration and IP framework.  The Expert Measurement and Verification (ExpertMV) project intends to address the barriers to EPC by developing a reliable, trustworthy, transparent and cost-effective means of collecting and analysing energy data, and of measuring and verifying energy savings. This will be accomplished by developing an intuitive software tool that will provide:
  1. A systematic approach to executing investment grade energy audits and
  2. A transparent, innovative and scientific means of M&V of savings in buildings and industry. The project will incorporate an assessment of the reliability of the ExpertMV software and of the algorithms used via comprehensively testing in selected sites in Ireland and elsewhere in Europe.
The ExpertMV project offers significant potential for ground-breaking research in the areas of identification of energy savings opportunities and measurement. Research will focus on developing new methods to improve the reliability of energy models to address shortcomings in existing modelling approaches, for example in forecasting the impacts of key operational variables on potential energy savings.

For more information on this and other ways to collaborate with the IERC email us at ierc@info.ie
Defined Calls May 2016

In May 2016 the IERC invited Expressions of Interest from Research Investigators to address defined challenges in the following three thematic areas of energy systems research:

  • Low Carbon Heating and Cooling 
  • Energy Efficiency and Carbon Management (Retrofit)
  • Smart and Sustainable Communities 

The defined call challenges were launched on 27th May 2016 and the call for Expressions of Interest closed at 5pm on the 8th July 2016. Two information webinars were held on the 8th & 27th June 2016. Submissions to the call are currently under internal review.

Further information on the Defined Calls can be found at the following link: http://www.ierc.ie/research-call-archive/call-proposals-2016/

Green Gas Certification EOI Call

The IERC is currently inviting  Expressions of Interest from Research Investigators to participate in an IERC T2 collaborative research project.  The aim of the research project, as has been identified by a consortium of industry collaborators, is the development of a credible and complete Green Gas Certification Scheme. 

Two information webinars were held on the 6th & 13th July 2016.

The call was launched on 24th June and will close at 5pm on Friday the 12th August 2016.

Further information on the Green Gas Certification EOI Call can be found at the following link: http://www.ierc.ie/open-research-calls/green-gas-eoi-call/

New IERC Core Team Member

IERC Research Engineer - Brian O'Regan
Brian joined the team in July 2016. He has a degree in Computer Science from University College Cork and is currently completing a Masters in Engineering programme in UCC, in Information Technology in Architecture, Engineering and Construction, a programme aimed at applying computer science technologies to sustainable design, facilities, energy and construction management.

He recently carried out work for the Department of Civil Engineering, University College Cork, where he developed a system supporting the holistic management of source code from post-graduate and under-graduate projects and also a system for building energy analysis, which provided a means of analysing data collected by a range of wireless sensors.  During this time, he also mentored post-graduate students in their software projects and assisted in providing instruction in Energy Systems.

Brian has extensive experience in facilities management and health and safety, having worked for over a decade in the area, in the private health sector. In his role in the IERC, as part of the IERC technical team, he will be responsible for delivering high-quality, well-tested, documented software and contributing to research projects.

IERC Conference 2016

'Delivering a Low Carbon Future:
Transformative Technologies and Trends’ 

The IERC held its 5th annual conference in the Gibson Hotel, Dublin, on the 18th May 2016.

The event brought together an informed line up of speakers, representing industry, policy-makers and academia, including Michael Manley,  DCENR Assistant Secretary;  Jo Coleman, ETI; Jon O'Sullivan, Eirgrid; Prof. Brian O'Gallachoir, UCC; Dr. Francis O'Sulivan, MIT; Dr. David Connolly, Aalborg University; Barthold Veenendaal, Schneider Electric and Dr. Lisa Ryan UCD, to name a few.

 

The conference theme was â€˜Delivering a Low Carbon Future: 
Transformative Technologies and Trends’ 
and included four sessions:

  • Session 1: Distributed Generation Systems: Transformative Technologies and Trends
  • Session 2: Panel Discussion: Empowering Energy Citizens
  • Session 3: Low Carbon Heating & Cooling
  • Session 4: Energy Efficiency and Carbon Management
Conference attendees may access the conference presentations via the link posted on the following IERC webpage: http://www.ierc.ie/2016-conference/

             

      

Winner of Conference Feedback Competition

Congratulations to Kevin Curtin from Survey and Design who was the winner of the IERC Conference Feedback Competition. This year, all attendees who submitted a conference feedback questionnaire were automatically entered into a draw to win free conference registration and dinner at the 6th IERC Annual Conference, 2017.

Kevin is pictured below receiving his prize from the IERC Executive Director, Tony Day.

 

The IERC is pleased to announce that on the 23rd November 2016 the Sustainable Innovation in Refrigeration Air Conditioning and Heat (SIRACH) network will be holding their annual members meeting in Cork at Tyndall National Institute. The theme of this year’s meeting is ‘Thermal Storage in Smart Energy Systems’.  A sneak peek at the speaker list includes Professor Neil Hewitt (Univ. Ulster) speaking on Heat Pumps, and Professor Tony Day, who will update on the latest research from the IERC.  Full programme and agenda to be confirmed, so watch this space: http://www.sirach.org.uk/RO8XB8932851

For more information on the SIRACH Partnership Network visit www.sirach.org.uk

New Department Responsible for Climate and Energy

On the 23rd of July 2016, the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources became the Department of Communication, Climate Action and the Environment. The IERC welcomes the expanded functions of this new Department to include the interaction of both climate and sustainable energy policy. The new super-portfolio will enhance the decarbonisation imperative and bring coherence and consistency of policy approach to delivery of our international energy and climate-change requirements. Delivery of a low carbon economy will bridge the Climate Action and environmental sustainability functions and the IERC stands ready to assist Government in making this transition. For more information see www.dccae.gov.ie
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