A reflection on the MaREI Centre legacy

24 Jul 2026

The MaREI centre for energy, climate and marine, has successfully completed its 13-year funded research programme that was coordinated by the Sustainability Institute at UCC in collaboration with 12 other academic institutions and strongly supported by Research Ireland.

Research excellence and Societal Impact

In looking back on the 13 years of research excellence and societal impact in MaREI, Professor Jerry Murphy (MaREI Centre Director and Chair of Civil Engineering) reflected:

"As we bring this landmark chapter to a close, we look back with immense pride on the research excellence that has defined our research centre and celebrate the profound legacy left behind, including for":

• Our 220 incredibly talented PhD graduates who delivered research excellence in engineering, science, law, business, geography and sociology (amongst other disciplines) in energy, climate and marine topics;
• Delivery of sustainability solutions, jobs and economic activity in collaboration with our 110 industry partners in the energy transition, climate action and the blue economy (including ESB, EirGrid Group, Gas Networks Ireland, GKinetic Energy, Simply Blue Energy, EPRI Europe, DePuy Synthes and DP Energy Group);
• Our fabulous community partners, enabling us to advance engaged research to co-produce solutions to meet their sustainability goal (including Dingle Hub, The Playhouse, Ourpower GmbH, Pro Progressione and Maharees Conservation)
• Our collaboration with Government Departments (including Department of Climate Energy and the Environment, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Department of the Taoiseach, and State Agencies (including EPA, SEAI and the Marine Institute) to translate our research results into policy impacts that informed and underpinned energy, climate and marine policy

What is next – Sustainability Institute

Reflecting on capturing MaREI’s legacy going forward, Professor Brian Ó Gallachóir (MaREI Centre Director and Director of the Sustainability Institute) said

"The Sustainability Institute at UCC is very proud to have hosted the MaREI Centre over the past 13 years. We will build on this legacy of leadership, excellence and impact in energy, climate and marine research by advancing these areas that complement our other key research strengths in the environment, materials and food.

At the core of our success in MaREI was the wonderful people that contributed so generously to the Centre, our academics, researchers, PhD cohort and our too often overlooked and yet incredible research professional services support team that were so superbly guided by Dr. Gillian Bruton".

What is next – Rinn Energy

This is the end of this era of Research Ireland Research Centres as a new cohort of research centres begins for the next 8 years as the Rinn Network.

UCC’s Sustainability Institute is host to the newly established Rinn Energy that will drive energy system decarbonisation by delivering an ambitious, world-leading, and scientifically excellent research programme and includes MaREI academics who focus on energy.