Energy Engineering

About Energy Engineering

Our modern world depends on a secure, reliable, and affordable energy supply. Energy engineering is crucial to addressing some of the most challenging issues facing the world today, namely how to:

i) reduce human impact on the climate (energy accounts for 80% of EU greenhouse gas emissions) through innovative low-carbon energy supply systems;

ii) provide a better standard of living for the world's growing population through access to sustainable and secure energy supplies.

Energy engineering graduates will be required to source, design, convert, transmit and supply useful energy to meet our present and long-term needs for electricity, mobility and heating and cooling.

If you want to help the world address the energy 'grand challenge' of the 21st century, then Ireland's first accredited degree programme in Energy Engineering is for you.

News

22 Aug 2025

HVO is a climate ‘quick fix’ that could be worse than fossil fuels

For every complex problem, there is an answer that is clear, simple and wrong.” This aphorism frequently comes to mind when I reflect on climate solutions. Problems don’t come more complex or urgent than climate change, and sadly there is no shortage of solutions that seem appealing and straightforward, but are, at best, distractions. In the worst cases, some of these solutions can be more harmful than doing nothing at all. Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) is one such solution. HVO is being aggressively promoted as a convenient, low-carbon “drop-in” substitute for diesel, heating oil and jet kerosene, requiring no modifications to engines or boilers. Its apparent simplicity makes it an attractive quick fix.

22 Oct 2021

School of Engineering's Dr. Barry Hayes explains why electricity blackouts happen

Our electricity grid is facing serious challenges, with growing warnings around energy shortages and possible blackouts. According to the Government, we can be "reasonably confident" that the lights will stay on this winter, but we "cannot rule out" the possibility of electricity blackouts in Ireland over the next few years. But what exactly is a blackout, and why do they occur? What can we learn from other countries that have experienced major blackouts? And why, in Ireland, one of the most developed countries in the world, are we facing the real possibility of electricity blackouts this winter?

22 Oct 2021

Prof. Brian Ó Gallachóir explains and calculates possible carbon budgets for Ireland

The recently published Climate Bill 2021 commits Ireland to pursue and achieve the transition to a climate neutral economy, by no later than the end of the year 2050. It further introduces a process for establishing five-yearly carbon budgets that will be proposed by the Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC), finalised by the Minister for Climate and approved by the Government.

22 Oct 2021

School of Engineering PhD student Siddarth Joshi leads 1st study to assess global rooftop solar electricity potential

The first detailed global assessment of the electricity generation potential of rooftop solar photovoltaics (PV) technology has been conducted by researchers at MaREI, the SFI Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine in University College Cork (UCC), in collaboration with international research partners. The findings are published in Nature Communications.

Brian O'Gallachóir, Professor of Energy Engineering at UCC, introduces the BE Energy Programme

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