UCC Researchers Participate in EU Strategic Energy Technology Plan Conference

12 Nov 2026

University College Cork (UCC) was widely represented at the recent EU Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan Conference, held in Cork's City Hall as part of Ireland’s EU Presidency.

Organised by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), the conference was opened by Minister of State, Timmy Dooley. 

The SET Plan defines the EU’s energy strategy and through the SET Plan Task Force Recommendations, feeds the scope of EU funding calls such as Horizon Europe and the upcoming FP10. 

The conference brought together EU and national policymakers, industry leaders, electricity-sector representatives and internationally recognised researchers. Among UCC's contributors was RINN Energy Co-Director Professor Jimmy Murphy, who was invited to join the panel discussion, Scaling Offshore Energy in Europe, reflecting his leadership in offshore renewable energy. 

He also hosted a site visit to the Lir National Ocean Test Facility in Ringaskiddy. Fellow RINN Energy Co-Director Professor Lisa Ryan, University College Dublin (UCD) also attended the conference. 

UCC's Sustainability Institute Director, Professor Brian Ó Gallachóir moderated the high-level plenary session 'Celebrating the twenty SET Plan conferences and the path forward' that included former EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs.  

Together with Dr Evan Boyle, Dr Alexandra Revez and Aoife Deane, Brian also participated in a side event organised by EirGrid on the EU Pact for Engagement, presenting UCC research on 'Strengthening Public Engagement on Electricity Grid Infrastructure.'   

Prof Jerry Murphy, School of Engineering & Architecture spoke at a site visit to Irish Distillers, Midleton. His long-term research collaboration with the company has directly contributed to Midleton achieving carbon-neutral distillery status. 

Several UCC Principal Investigators and their students presented their research at the poster session of projects funded by the SEAI, including Dr Paul Leahy, Dr Frances Judge, Dr Fiona Devoy McAuliffe, Dr Katherine Coughlan, Kevin Leyne, and student Amina Tahseen, who is supervised by Dr Barry Hayes and Dr Frances Judge.

Also in attendance were Dr Richard O’Shea, Dr Sarah O'Connell, and the 'Father of Ocean Energy', Professor Emeritus Tony Lewis, representing his company Ocean Energy.