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EirGrid Awards Prize to Peter Hourihane for UCC’s Top Masters Graduate in Sustainable Energy
Thursday, 22nd May 2014 – EirGrid, the operator of the national electricity grid, today awarded its annual prize for UCC’s top Masters graduate in Sustainable Energy. Peter Hourihane is this year’s winner and was presented with the prize by EirGrid’s Chief Executive, Fintan Slye, at its National Control Centre in Dublin.
Peter, (30)from Rosscarbery, Co. Cork, received the highest results in UCC’s MEngSc (Masters of Engineering Science) in Sustainable Energy 2012 - 2013. His thesis was in the area of tidal energy and focused specifically on the hydrodynamic design of a tidal energy converter. Having completed the programme, he is currently working in the MaREI (Marine Renewable Energy Ireland) Centre in UCC.
UCC’s School of Engineering taught MEngSc Programme in Sustainable Energy is now in its ninth year and continues to attract considerable interest, both from applicants wishing to participate and from employers looking for suitably trained staff. A core element of the programme is industry involvement, both in terms of guest lectures to the programme (including EirGrid, Bord Gáis, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland) and joint supervision of minor theses. The first EirGrid prize for the top graduate prize was awarded for the top graduate in 2005 – 2006, when the taught programme was in its first year .
Commenting on the award, Chief Executive Fintan Slye said ‘’Ireland is playing a world-leading role in integrating high levels of renewable energy onto the transmission system. The prospects for renewable energy in the electricity sector in Ireland, as part of the fuel mix over the next decade are positive, and having highly skilled engineers with knowledge of sustainable energy will be very important.’’
Dr. Brian Ó Gallachóir, Programme Director of UCC’s Masters in Sustainable Energy said ‘I congratulate Peter who is very deserving of this prize. He performed consistently well in our programme, excelling both in exams and in his research work. I commend EirGrid for continuing to recognise excellence by awarding a prize each year to our top graduate.’
In addition to this award, representatives from EirGrid and UCC are in discussion about potential research collaborations in the future.
Picture shows L-R Fintan Slye [CEO, EirGrid], Peter Hourihane [UCC MEngSc (Sustainable Energy) Graduate and EirGrid Prize Winner], Mark Norton [Manager, Transmission Access, EirGrid] Brian Ó Gallachóir [UCC MEngSc (Sustainable Energy) Programme Director]