Dr. Brian O GallachoirDr. Aoife FoleyDenis DineenEmer DennehyFionn RoganHannah DalyPatrick CalnanAlessandro Chiodi

Biography

Current Position:

Dr. Brian Ó Gallachóir is a Lecturer in Energy Engineering in University College Cork and Principal Investigator of Energy Policy and Modelling Research in UCC's Environmental Research Institute. His research focus is on i) bottom up techno-economic modelling of sectoral energy demand, ii) electricity dispatch modelling and iii) energy systems optimisation using TIMES. Brian is Chair of the International Energy Agency (IEA)’s Executive Committee on Energy Technology Systems Analysis Programme (ETSAP). He is an elected member of the RIA Climate Change Committee and a member of the Technical Analysis Steering Group on Climate Change and Energy Security. Brian co-ordinates of UCC's taught Masters Programme (MEngSc) in Sustainable Energy and co-instigator of UCC's BE Degree in Energy Engineering. An applied sciences graduate of Dublin Institue of Technology, Brian moved to Cork in 1990 to carry out a Doctoral research programme in ocean wave energy in the Department of Applied Mathematics. From 1995 - 1998, Brian was Technical Manager of the Renewable Energy Information Office of Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. Brian is also a Strategic Advisor to Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland's Energy Policy Statistical Support Unit.

 

Membership of National and International Working Groups

• Chair of IEA Energy Systems Modelling (ETSAP)Executive Committee since 2011
• National Delegate to IEA Energy Systems Modelling(ETSAP) Executive Committee since 2008
• ElectedMemberRoyalIrishAcademyClimate Change Committee(from 2009)
• Member Technical Analysis Steering Group to Cabinet Committee on Energy Security and Climate Change(from 2008)
• Member Irish Energy Research Council(from 2006)
• Member Renewable Energy Development Group’s Short Term Action Group in 2004.
• National Delegate to DGTREN Energy Economic Analysts Expert Group since 2003
• National Delegate to EUROSTAT Energy Committee(2001 – 2004)
• Member of DPE Steering Group on the Grid Upgrade Development Programme for Renewable Energy(2002)
• Member National Climate Change Team Inventory Data Users Group(2001 – 2002)
• Facilitator, Ministerial Renewable Energy Strategy Group(1999 – 2000)
• Member Ministerial Working Group on Grid Connection Issues Relating to Renewable Energies(1996 – 1998)
• Member, Department of Public Enterprise Working Group on Energy Statistics(1998 –1999)
• Member Department of Environment & Local Government Steering Group on Sustainable Development Indicators(1999)

Publications

Recent Publications (For a full set of publications click Publications)

Peer Reviewed Journal papers

1. Cahill C., and Ó Gallachóír B. P. 2011 Quantifying the savings of an industry energy efficiency programme.  Energy Efficiency (doi: 10.1007/s12053-011-9132-8)

2. Conroy, N., Deane J. P. and Ó Gallachóir B. P. 2011 Wind Turbine Availability Should it be time or energy based? - A Case Study in Ireland. Renewable Energy Volume 36, Issue 11, Pages 2967-2971 (doi:10.1016/j.renene.2011.03.044) 

3. Rogan F, Dennehy E, Howley M. and Ó Gallachóir B. P. 2011  Impacts of an Emission Based Private Car Taxation Policy – One Year Ex-Post Analysis. Transportation Research Part A Policy and Practice Volume 45, Issue 7, Pages 583-597 (doi:10.1016/j.tra.2011.03.007) 

4. Dineen D. and Ó Gallachóir B. P. 2011 Modelling the Impacts of Building Regulations and a Property Bubble on Residential Space and Water Heating. Energy and Buildings Volume 43 Issue 1 Pages 166 - 178 (doi:10.1016/j.enbuild.2010.09.004)

5. Daly H. E. and Ó Gallachóír B. P. 2011 Modelling Private Car Energy Demand Using a Stock Model. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment Volume 16, Issue 2, March 2011, Pages 93-101 (doi:10.1016/j.trd.2010.08.009) 

Peer Reviewed Conference Papers

1. Dineen D., Rogan F., Cronin W. and Ó Gallachóir B. P. 2011 Modelling residential energy savings due to Ireland’s National Retrofit Programme using DEAP and LEAP. Proc International Energy Workshop 2011 Stanford University July 6 -9 2011, Stanford CA.  

2. Chiodi A., Deane J.P., Gargiulo M. and Ó Gallachóir B. P. 2011 Modelling Electricity Generation - Comparing Results From a Power Systems Model and an Energy Systems model. Proc International Energy Workshop 2011 Stanford University July 6 -9 2011, Stanford CA.

3. Rogan F. and Ó Gallachóir B.P. 2011 Ex-Post Evaluation of a Residential Energy Efficiency Policy Measure Using Empirical Data, Proceedings of the European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (eceee) Summer School, 6–11 June 2011,
Belambra Presqu'île de Giens, France.

4. Daly, H.E. and Ó Gallachóir, B. P. 2010 Forecasting Private Car Energy Demand Using Bottom-Up Car Stock Modelling. Proceedings 9th YEEES (Young Energy Economists and Engineers Seminar) November 26 - 27 2010 Trinity College Dublin.

5. Hurley T., Deane J.P. and Ó Gallachóir, B. P. 2010 Coastal Pumped Hydro Storage in Ireland: Do We Have The Resource? Proceedings 9th YEEES (Young Energy Economists and Engineers Seminar) November 26 - 27 2010 Trinity College Dublin.

Research Interests:

• techno-economic energy modelling 1990 – 2020 to inform energy policy;
• TIMES energy systems modelling 2005 – 2050 to deliver least cots energy subject to policy targets;
• evaluating measures to deliver key sustainable energy policy targets;
• sectoral analysis of energy consumption patterns in Ireland;

Current Projects:

Energy Systems Modelling – Irish TIMES
Research Funding: Environmental Protection Agency CCRP 2008 3.1
Duration of Research: April 2009 – September 2011
In collaboration with: ESRI (Economic and Social Research Institute)
Funding: € 428,951

Modelling the Impact of EVs on GHG Emissions
Research Funding: Environmental Protection Agency CCRP 2009 FS 7-2
Duration of Funding: January 2010 - December 2012
Funding: € 319,000

Modelling Energy Efficiency in Industry
Research Funding: Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland
Duration of Funding: February 2008 – January 2011
Funding: € 100,000

Empirical Analysis to Improve Modelling of Future Gas Demand
Research Funding: Bord Gais Éireann
Duration of Funding: December 2009 – November 2012
Funding: € 110,000

Modelling Energy Demand in the Residential Sector
Research Funding: IRCSET
Duration of Funding: October 2009 – September 2012
Funding: € 72,009

Modelling Private Car Transport Energy
Funding Source: IRCSET
Funding: € 72,009
Duration: October 2009 – Sept 2012

Modelling Industry Energy Demand and Supply within TIMES
Research Funding: IRCSET
Duration of Funding: October 2010 – September 2013
Funding: € 72,009

Building a LEAP Model for Ireland
Research Funding: SEAI
Duration of Funding: May 2010 – September 2010
Funding: € 25,730 

Completed projects:

Conflicts between Energy Policy Objectives and NCCS in Ireland , a research project funded by the Environmental Protection Agency, through the Environmental RTDI Programme. The aim of this project is to inform the successful implementation of the National Climate Change Strategy. This will be realised by increasing knowledge and addressing key information gaps surrounding the interactions between energy policies and the NCCS measures relating to the electricity supply sector.

Study on the Economic Analysis of RE Support Mechanisms in the Electricity Generation Sector , a research project funded by  Sustainable Energy Ireland under its Renewable Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Programme. The study is co-ordinated by the Energy Economics Group in Vienna University of Technology and the other project partners are Ecofys and Distributed Energy Compnay. It provides a detailed technical, economic, financial and regulatoy analysis of the various market based renewable energy support mechanisms the may be employed to meet Irish RE targets going forward. See Final Report

Measuring and Monitoring the Sustainability of Energy Trends, a research project funded by the Higher Education Authority, under the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions. This is one of 5 projects under the strategic research area Sustainable Energy which is itself one of 9 areas around which UCC's Environmental Research Institute will be built.

Modules delivered:

NE-1001 - Introduction to Energy Engineering and Energy Policy
Module Objective: To introduce the discipline of energy engineering. To explore the challenges facing, and solutions found by, energy engineers. To introduce students to energy policy and the interaction between energy policy and energy engineering.
Module Content: Definition of energy engineering. Sources of energy. Units and Conversion Factors. Chemical energy, mechanical energy, electrical energy. Thermal energy and transport energy. Energy trends and impacts. Energy policy formation. Drivers of energy policy. Energy policy in the EU. Energy policy in Ireland. Introduction to ICT in Energy Engineering.

CE-3016 - Sustainable Energy
Module Objective: To introduce the concept of sustainable energy and the interaction between cost competitiveness, security of supply and environmental responsibility. To make students aware of the link between energy and the environment, with a particular focus on climate change. To provide students with the basic tools to assess energy trends and their policy implications. Introduce the topics of energy policy and economics. Introduce renewable energy sources and technologies.
Module Content: Definition of sustainable energy. Global and regional energy trends in terms of fuel supply and sectoral consumption. Electrical, transport and thermal energy consumption. Energy end use. Pillars of sustainable energy policy. Environmental impacts of energy. Climate Change. Transboundary gas emissions. Security of energy supply. Cost competitiveness. Policy instruments. Energy efficiency indicators. Socio-economic assessment of energy supply systems. An overview of renewable energy technologies and their role in sustainable energy. Renewable energy market development. Fuel cells and the hydrogen economy.

CE-6007 - Energy Systems Modelling
Module Objective: To teach students about energy systems and how to model them. To introduce software packages for energy systems modelling.
Module Content: Hybrid renewable energy systems. Technical, economic and market modelling Stand alone energy systems. Grid connected energy systems. Introduction to MATLAB Simulink and PLEXOS model. Energy storage systems. Energy supply components and load classification characteristics. Matching demand with supply within different markets and technological constraints. Optimising of system efficiency and overall economics.

EV2913 - Energy and the Environment
Module Objective: To introduce the various sources of energy, their exploitation and environmental impacts.
Module Content: Traditional energy practices and their environmental impacts (wind, water, peat, wood, coal, oil, natural gas). Nuclear energy and its environmental impacts (fission, fusion, radiation, radon). Renewable energy resources.