Energy Policy & Modelling
UCC has been engaged in energy policy and energy modelling research for over 12 years. The results of this research have been published in journal papers, conference proceedings and reports. In addition, the research has directly informed the development of national energy policy.
There are five key strands to this work as follows
techno-economic bottom-up modelling of energy demand – Research has focussed on the period 1990 – 2020 with a particular emphasis on the residential sector (gas and total energy demand), and transport energy (private car, aviation and freight transport). There is currently one PhD student (Denis Dineen) and one MEngSc student (Hannah Daly) within this strand. Funding 2009 – 2012 IRCSET €100k
modelling energy efficiency in the industry, transport and residential sectors - The research focuses on comparing different approaches for quantifying energy savings, understanding the links between productivity and energy efficiency and reducing baseload energy use in specific industry sub-sectors. There are currently one SEI funded PhD student (Caiman Cahill) and one MEngSc student (Liam McLaughlin) working in industry. This builds on longstanding collaborative work between UCC and SEI – EPSSU on developing energy efficiency indicators to analyse energy trends and the underlying factors. Funding 2009 – 2012 SEI € 100k
optimising the energy system to deliver a given future energy service demand at least cost - This research involves building a TIMES energy systems model for Ireland to compare competing future energy system pathways to deliver a given future energy service demand. Since it covers the entire energy system and is an optimisation model it can inform medium to long term policy choices in a unique manner. There are currently two Post-Doctoral Fellows (Denis Lavigne and Ullash Kumar Rout) and one MEngSc student (Alessandro Chiodi) working on this model. Funding 2009 – 2011 EPA € 429 k
modelling the impacts of energy policies and measures - This is an emerging area of research responding to the requirements of the ESD Directive. There is one PhD student (Emer Dennehy) modelling on energy efficiency in transport, one Post-Doc (Aoife Foley) modelling the GHG emissions impact of electric vehicles and one MEngSc student modelling the electric market impacts of electric vehicles. Funding 2009 – 2012 SEI € 319 k.
The Energy Policy and Modelling Research team comprises
Principal Investigator
Dr. Brian Ó Gallachóir
Senior Post-Doctoral Researchers
Dr. Denis Lavigne (TIMES Energy Modelling)
Dr. Ullash Kumar Rout (TIMES Energy Modelling)
Aoife Foley (Modelling GHG Impacts of EVs)
Dr. Brian Ó Gallachóir
Senior Post-Doctoral Researchers
Dr. Denis Lavigne (TIMES Energy Modelling)
Dr. Ullash Kumar Rout (TIMES Energy Modelling)
Aoife Foley (Modelling GHG Impacts of EVs)
PhD Students
Caiman Cahill (Energy Efficiency Industry)
Denis Dineen (Residential Sector)
Emer Dennehy (Energy Efficiency Evaluation)
Fionn Rogan (Modelling Gas Demand)
MEngSc Students
Liam McLaughlin (Energy Efficiency Industry)
Hannah Daly (Private Car Transport)
Patrick Calnan (Modelling EVs within PLEXOS)
Alessandro Chiodi (Modelling Wind within TIMES)
UCC’s energy modelling expertise is also recognized nationally and internationally through staff being invited to provide key input to energy policy initiatives, including
- representing Ireland on International Energy Agency (IEA) executive committee on energy systems modelling and the EU DG TREN Energy Economic Analysts Working Group.
- membership of Irish Energy Research Council, the Technical Analysis Steering Group of the Cabinet Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security, the RIA Climate Change Committee, (and previously) Forfás Working Group on Socio-Economic Scenarios, Renewable Energy Development Group Short Term Action Group, Ministerial Renewable Energy Strategy Group,
- providing strategic advice to Sustainable Energy Ireland’s Energy Policy Statistical Support Unit and to Sustainable Energy Ireland’s Energy Modelling Group
- providing evidence to the Oireachtas Joint Committees on Climate Change and Energy Security and Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.
UCC’s current energy modelling research activity is directly linked to assisting Ireland in setting and delivering on national energy policy priorities. This research seeks to answer key questions, develop greater understanding and build a complementary engineering approach to existing national capacity in macro-economic modelling research. The goal is to provide a research evidence base to underpin decisions on future policy making.
UCC’s energy modeling research activity is built on strong collaboration with other academic institutions, industry and Government Agencies. It is also developing the capacity and skills for energy modeling in Ireland.
Contact Dr. Brian Ó Gallachóir, Principal Investigator, Energy Policy and Modelling Research, Sustainable Energy Research Group, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork. tel
+353 21 490 3037 ; e-mail b.ogallachoir@ucc.ie