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Category	Category	Keywords	Year	Title	Abstract	Actions
Report	Report	Sustainable Development, Impact, Case Studies, Policy Impact, Carbon Budgets, Climate Action, Energy	2026	Delivering Sustainable Development Policy Impact from Research: Case Studies from Ireland	This report compiles case studies that capture some of the achievements of SDSN Ireland members in acceleration progress towards sustainable development by delivering policy impact from their research. This involves undertaking research relevant to sustainable development, translating the research results into policy insights and then engaging with the policy systems to not only improve the evidence base for policy, but also to actively inform, underpin, co-produce and implement sustainable development policy.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Carbon Budgets, EU Targets, Decarbonisation, Climate Neutrality	2026	Evaluating the consistency between Ireland’s carbon budget-aligned energy system pathways and EU energy and climate targets	This study assesses the alignment of Ireland’s energy system decarbonisation pathways – developed using the TIMES-Ireland Model (TIM) and aligned with approved and adopted national CBs - with EU climate and energy targets for 2030 and 2040. The analysis focuses on a composite “TIM-CBaligned” pathway, representing the weighted average of scenarios underpinning Ireland’s third and fourth CB proposals, alongside current and planned policy scenarios.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Energy Policy, Carbon Emissions, Energy Modelling	2026	Ireland's carbon emission trends and degrowth oppertunities: Based on modified Tapio - LMDI model	This study examines the complex interplay between economic growth and carbon emissions in Ireland from 1995 to 2023 at the national level, using the modified Tapio decoupling model and the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) decomposition method from a degrowth perspective. It provides both a theoretical foundation and possible strategies for balancing Ireland’s climate commitments with economic stability. The findings reveal distinct phase characteristics in Ireland’s decoupling state, with the core tension arising from the dynamic interplay between technological effect (energy structure optimization, energy efficiency improvements, and material efficiency gains) and scale effects (per capita GNI* growth and population expansion). Furthermore, this study proposes the possible opportunity for degrowth at the national level, offering theoretical insights for small open economies seeking to reconcile carbon neutrality with economic growth.	More details Read publication
Recommendation	Recommendation	Climate Action Plan, Ireland, Emissions	2026	Letter to An Taoiseach & Minister for the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environemnt on Delay in publishing Climate Action Plan 2026.	Ireland's Climate Action Plan is urgently needed to close the emissions gap between decarbonisation action and committed targets for the second carbon budget period (2026-30) - but the plan been delayed. Minister Darragh O'Brien recently justified this delay on the basis of unfinalised carbon budgets post-2030.	More details Read publication
Report	Report	Aviation, Decarbonisation, Ireland, Emissions, Land Use	2026	How much land and power would it take to decarbonise Dublin Airport?	Decarbonising the emissions associated with flights from Dublin Airport would need much more land and electricity than you might think.	More details Read publication
Policy brief	Policy brief	Temperature Neutrality, Carbon Budgets, Ireland	2025	Basing Ireland’s carbon budgets on temperature neutrality would undermine obligations under the Paris Agreement	Ireland has committed, through the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 and by ratifying the Paris Agreement, to pursue climate action with the highest possible ambition. Ireland is also bound under ambitious and binding climate targets at the EU level: a 55% reduction by 2030, a 90% reduction by 2040 (under discussion), and net-zero greenhouse gases by 2050. Together, that means doing everything feasible to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to make a fair contribution to the Paris Agreement temperature goal limiting warming to 1.5°C. We are now perilously close to breaking that limit. Achieving the Paris Agreement goals requires rapid and sustained emissions reductions across all greenhouse gases, including methane (CH4), which is responsible for around 0.5°C of warming to date as a result of human activities. Given Ireland’s position as among the world’s highest per-capita emitters of methane, its approach to this gas in particular will set a precedent.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Climate Neutrality, Climate Action, Methane, Emissions	2025	National temperature neutrality, agricultural methane and climate policy: reinforcing inequality in the global food system	This study critically examines the use of ‘no additional warming’ approaches, such as temperature neutrality (TN), to determine national climate policy on agricultural methane (CH4). The reduced-complexity climate model MAGICC was used to quantify future national warming contributions for Ireland (a country with high per-capita CH4 emissions driven by large-scale dairy and beef production) under a business-as-usual pathway and three alternative scenarios: (1) TN, (2) a split-gas emission target, or (3) net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.	More details Read publication
Presentation	Presentation	Climate Action, Energy Security	2025	Energy Policy and Modelling Group Research Showcase 2025 Presentations	The Energy Policy and Modelling Group held a research showcase event, in Engineers Ireland, on 15/12/2025. Themes focused on climate action and energy security, followed by intreractive panel discussions.	More details Read publication
Policy brief	Policy brief	District Heating, Energy, Climate Action Plan	2025	Can Ireland Still Meet its District Heating Targets by 2030?	Our latest policy brief examines progress toward the 2030 district heating targets, outlined in the Government’s Climate Action Plan. The findings point to a significant gap between ambition and delivery.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Energy, Irland, Buidling Stock, Energy Modelling, Residential	2025	Filtered dataset of Irish energy performance certificates: A data driven approach for enhanced building stock modelling	The data presented in this article supports the research publication “A data-driven standardised generalisable methodology to validate a large energy performance Certification dataset: A case of the application in Ireland” by Raushan et al. [1]. It provides the filtered Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) database for residential buildings in Ireland after applying rigorous data validation methods to remove erroneous entries, and outliers.	More details Read publication
Report	Report	Energy Justice, Energy Transition, Ireland	2025	Exploring the Perspectives of Householders on Energy in the Home	This report provides an overview of the perspectves of a small number of households on the use of energy in the home and the energy transiton more widely. Based on a series of interviews conducted in September and October 2024, it includes a description of the household context and energy issues of eleven householders around Ireland, along with a narratve overview of their responses to different areas of inquiry around energy, climate, the energy transiton and perceived opportunites and barriers arising from that transition.	More details Read publication
Presentation	Presentation	Power Sector, Energy Transition, Electricity	2025	Power Sector Overview	Three topics covered in the presentation as follows: Are electricity imports from the UK good for the environment? Is the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism helpful? What is the expected trajectory of the Power System in Ireland to 2030?	More details Read publication
Policy brief	Policy brief	Carbon Capture, Carbon Removal Technologies, Ireland, Energy Transition	2025	Ireland's Energy Transition - The Role and Timeline of Carbon Capture & Removal Technologies	The policy brief examines the role and timeline of carbon capture and removal technologies in Ireland's energy transition	More details Read publication
Policy brief	Policy brief	Electricity, Prices, Ireland	2025	A Preliminary Analysis on the Future Energy Component of Electricity Bills in Ireland	This analysis is based on electricity market modelling of four potential renewable energy outcomes for the 2030 Irish power system. It is based on the SEM-25-010 SEM PLEXOS Model Validation 2024-2032 model which contains projections for electricity demand, renewables capacity, thermal generation, interconnection capacity, embedded generation, and generator outages to 2032. This model was used to estimate the wholesale electricity price component of electricity bills in 2030 for the Republic of Ireland.	More details Read publication
Report	Report	Data Centres, Policy, Decarbonisation, Ireland, Energy	2025	Friends of the Irish Environment’s submission to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) consultation on its proposed decision paper for large energy users (i.e., data centres), based on my technical assessment of the impact on greenhouse gas emissions, and Fred Logue’s legal analysis of CRU’s obligations under Section 15 of the Climate Act.	To gain a clearer understanding of the proposed decision paper on the Connection Policy (“Policy”) for Large Energy Users (“LEU”), FIE engaged an independent expert on energy systems and a law firm.This submission offers professional evidenced opinions to assist the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, electricity and gas System Operators, other regulatory authorities, and project developers in identifying their responsibilities and meeting their legal obligations under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 (as amended). It also aims to support policymakers, civil society, ndustries, and academia in their collective efforts to decarbonize Ireland’s energy system towards developing a more sustainable economy through a regenerative growth model.	More details Read publication
Report	Report	GHG Emissions, Sectoral emissions Ceilings, Ireland, Climate Neutrality, Carbon Budgets, Decarbonisation, Climage Change, Energy, Pathways	2025	Analysis of the alignment between energy transition pathways for Irish carbon budgets with EW energy and climate targets	This study assesses the alignment between Ireland’s national energy system decarbonisation pathways and key EU energy and climate-related targets. Specifically, it examines how scenarios consistent with Ireland’s carbon budgets (approved and legally adopted in the period to 2030 and proposed in the period to 2040), and SECs, compare to EU obligations, namely: • The EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS) • The Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR) • The Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) • Indicative 2040 GHG emissions target The analysis focuses on energy-related sectors—electricity, buildings, transport, and industry—and excludes agriculture and land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF), which are not included in the energy system model used.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Energy Policy, Socio-geographical, Energy Systems Modelling, Transport	2025	Exploring the applicability of "One Size Fits All" road transport decarbonisation strategies; a participatory energy systems modelling comparison of urban and non urban municipalities	Despite the key role that local authorities play in shaping energy policies and implementing action plans, their level of involvement has been insufficiently examined. This study aims to assess how different socio-geographical factors impact the adoption of fossil-free vehicle technologies and fuels for private cars, buses, and trucks. Using a participatory energy systems modeling approach, this study explores the cost-optimal decarbonization of road transport in four urban and non-urban Swedish municipalities. By collaborating with local authorities, socio-technical scenarios are modeled to reflect climate actions, resources and infrastructure availability, as well as travel patterns.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Energy, Decarbonise, Infastructure, Public Engagement, Ireland, TSO, Policy	2025	Perspectives from the Next Generation" in New Engagement Strategies for Energy Justice	Plans are in place across Europe to update and develop energy infrastructure to decarbonise the system in the years ahead. Alongside this, calls have emerged for more participatory approaches to new energy infrastructural projects involving a wider range of stakeholders, including those at the local community level. This paper investigates the deployment of a public engagement strategy by the Irish Transmission System Operator (TSO) concerning electricity grid infrastructure developments, whereby a community forum is established.	More details Read publication
Book chapter	Book chapter	Energy Justice, Just Transition, Fossil Fuels, Societal Responsibility, Ireland	2025	Solar Rollout in Ireland: Revolution or Reinforcing Existing Social Inequity	Access to energy and the affordability of energy services are bound up with questions of energy poverty and energy justice—or ensuring people can access affordable, safe, sustainable energy that allows them to sustain a decent lifestyle. As the rollout of renewables continues to accelerate in Ireland and Europe, driven by government and EU policy, key questions remain to be addressed around who is benefiting and whether some people or groups are being left behind.	More details Read publication
Report	Report	Energy Transition, Carbon Budgets, Data Centres, GHG Emissions, Ireland	2024	Data centres in the context of Ireland's carbon budgets	This study was commissioned by Friends of the Earth Ireland and undertaken by Prof. Hannah Daly. It seeks to explore and analyse the evidence surrounding the impact that growing data centre energy demand is having on Ireland’s electricity and natural gas usage, greenhouse gas emissions and legally-binding carbon budgets.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Energy Transition, Energy Systems Models, Integrated Assessment Models, BECCS, Carbon Capture and Storage	2024	Negative emissions technologies in energy system models and mitigation scenarios - a systematic review	Achieving global commitments on climate mitigation necessitates a rapid transition of the global energy system away from fossil fuels. Modelled scenarios within Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) and Energy Systems Models (ESMs) indicate that limiting global temperature rise to safe levels will require some dependence on negative emissions technologies (NETs). However, the representation of NETs varies significantly across models, leading to differences in their roles across mitigation scenarios. Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) and direct air carbon capture and storage (DACCS) are two possible solutions that are directly related to the energy system. Here, we perform a systematic review of the representation of BECCS and DACCS within ESMs and IAMs, exploring their roles in decarbonisation scenarios and identifying how NETs contribute to energy system transition pathways.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Carbon Budgets, Energy Modelling, Energy Policy, Ireland, Energy Transition, Climate Action	2024	Implications of Accelerated and Delayed Climate Action for Ireland’s Energy Transition under Carbon Budget	Analysis of Ireland’s mitigation pathways under equal per-capita carbon budgets using an energy systems optimisation model. Our findings reveal that delayed mitigation brings forward the need for a net-zero target by five years, risks carbon lock-in and stranded assets, increase reliance on carbon dioxide removal technologies and leads to higher long-term mitigation costs. To keep the Paris Agreement targets, countries must set and meet accelerated mid-term mitigation goals and address energy demand.	More details Read publication
Book chapter	Book chapter	Decarbonisation, Climate Change, Renewable Energy, Ireland, Energy Transition	2024	Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024 - Chapter 12 - Environment and Energy	Ireland’s energy supply and demand is currently undergoing accelerated changes driven by increased climate policy ambitions and by economic and geopolitical trends. The policy responses that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the resulting increases in energy prices highlighted our dependency on imported fossil fuels and the need to improve our energy security. This further emphasised the urgency of accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels in Ireland and towards using cleaner and more renewable energy sources to support decarbonisation, protect against volatile energy prices and secure Ireland’s future energy supply.	More details Read publication
Report	Report	Energy Transition, Ireland, Decarbonisation, 2050	2024	Pathways for Ireland's Energy System to 2050	Ireland’s energy system must achieve net-zero emissions well before 2050 to meet carbon budgets consistent with the Paris Agreement commitment, requiring accelerated cuts in greenhouse gas emissions in power, buildings, industry and transport. Delays in implementing mitigation measures will increase costs and make it harder to meet carbon budgets, highlighting the urgency of immediate action to avoid locking in fossil fuel use and relying on uncertain carbon removals.	More details Read publication
Book chapter	Book chapter	Sustainable Development Goals, Ireland, Climate Action Plans, Decarbonisation	2024	Translating Research Results into Policy Insights to Underpin Climate Action in Ireland	This chapter presents innovative processes that have been developed and used to bridge the interface between the research ecosystem and policy-making ecosystem. It focuses on a specific case study, namely how energy systems modelling has been used to inform energy and climate mitigation policies in Ireland. We trace the development of energy systems modelling tools and capacity in Ireland over the past 15 years, and the key role it has played in addressing important policy questions related to delivery of a number of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Energy Systems Optimisation model, Ireland, Residential, Heat pumps, Thermal efficiency	2024	Advancing Cost Optimal Residential Decarbonisation Pathways: An Examination of Heat Pumps and Thermal Efficiency	In Ireland, residential energy policy has been influenced by thermal inefficiency, high electricity prices and energy poverty. These factors have driven the fabric-first approach, where buildings must undergo extensive thermal retrofitting to qualify for heat pump subsidies. The cost-effectiveness of this approach has not been properly scrutinised to date. This paper addresses this knowledge gap by exploring the cost-effectiveness of the fabric-first approach and other decarbonisation strategies for the residential sector and broader energy system.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article		2024	Is District Heating a cost effective solution to decarbonise Irish buildings?	This pioneering study explores supply sources and heat density demand cohorts to develop a model to understand district heating in a low-deployment region, using Ireland as a case study. We also conduct a sensitivity analysis considering different connection rates.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Decarbonisation, Transport, Ireland, Emissions	2024	Decarbonising road freight transport: The role of zero-emission trucks and intangible costs	The road freight sector faces significant challenges in decarbonisation, driven by high energy demand and limited availability of low-emission fuels and commercialised zero-emission vehicles. This study investigates intangible costs associated with advanced electric and hydrogen-powered trucks, including recharging/refuelling time, cargo capacity limitations, and buyer reluctance towards emerging technologies. Utilising a comprehensive whole-systems modelling approach considering low- and zero-emission fuels, inter-sectoral dynamics, and the carbon budget, we explore cost-optimal decarbonisation pathways for heavy, medium, and light trucks.	More details Read publication
Report	Report	Climate Neutrality 2050, Climate Change, Emissions Reduction, Energy Use, Land Use	2024	Ireland's Climate Change Assessment Report - Achieving climate neutrality by 2050	Addressing achieving climate neutrality by 2050 by investigating and assessing three key areas: mitigation pathways, and what form reducing emissions over time may take; assessing the factors that may constitute and result in a climate neutral society, including energy use, land use and the emissions landscape; and finally, assessing the enablers that may make change possible by building on societal dimensions and investigating policy implications.	More details Read publication
Report	Report	Energy Transition, Climate Policy, Ireland, Technology Policy Solutions, Climate Change	2024	Ireland's Climate Change Assessment Report - Realising the benefits of transition and transformation	The benefits, opportunities and synergies that can be achieved through transformation, and how they can be realised. This volume is a state of the knowledge assessment that draws on global synthesis literature, including the IPCC and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), international peer-reviewed and grey literature to identify key characteristics of transformative change. It explores the emergence of these characteristics in the national context. Knowledge gaps are highlighted to inform and enhance research related to transformations in Ireland	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Decarbonisation, Ireland, Net Zero, Energy Systems, Energy Modelling, Climate Change	2024	Dispersed settlement patterns can hinder the net-zero transition: Evidence from Ireland.	Limiting the growth of final energy demand helps meet the steep greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction trajectories required to address climate change, and can also bring wider sustainability benefits. Integrated Assessment Modelling (IAM) and energy systems modelling analyses are increasingly including low energy demand (LED) measures in GHG mitigation scenarios, but their granularity and empirical basis is typically low, limiting actionable insights. Here, we contribute to addressing this gap by examining the role of spatial settlement patterns as a driver of energy service demand, particularly in the transport and residential sectors. We focus on Ireland, which has enacted ambitious decarbonisation commitments in law, that are challenging to deliver partially due to a large proportion of the population living in rural one-off housing.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Energy Modelling, Decarbonisation, Green Technologies	2023	Power sector decarbonization planning considering renewable resource variability and system operational constraints.	Bottom-up long-term planning models generally consider low levels of spatial, temporal, and technical details to reduce associated computation. However, these details are required to capture spatial and temporal variability of Renewable Energy Sources (RESs) and perform harmonized dispatch of conventional generating units. In their absence, models may overestimate RESs uptake and underestimate the quantum of required flexible resources. This may create a false impression of sector decarbonization and the obtained capacity mix may result in frequent RES or load curtailment during real-time system operations. In this context, this study aims to improve upon the shortcomings of conventional planning approaches and develop a TIMES based planning model for the Indian power sector.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Sustainability, Social Science, Humanities	2023	Engineering with Social Sciences and Humanities; Necessary Partnerships in Facing Contemporary (Un)Sustainability Challenges?	Traditionally, the relationship between engineering, social sciences, and the humanities (SSH) has often been, to varying degrees, fraught, imbalanced and/or non-existent. Engineering has oftentimes been guilty of envisaging SSH as either providing a ‘soft’ window dressing or counterbalance to ‘hard’ projects representing ‘real’ progress, or to be used to more effectively ‘communicate’, for example in overcoming public reticence around such projects. The stories, histories, (her)stories, myths, language, text, images, art, provocations and critical insights which emanate from and characterize SSH are in this (dulled and marginalized) context more likely to be conceived as mere frivolous pursuits to help fill and support leisure time or promote cultural pursuits. This, we argue, not just feeds into the disconnect between respective disciplinary approaches, but seriously and dangerously miscomprehends the value (and values) that SSH can and indeed must bring to the table, in particular when facing emerging and emergent contemporary interconnected challenges around (un)sustainability. SSH can also benefit from such authentic and pragmatic engagement with engineering and science, while highlighting the necessary and invaluable contribution it can make to society, and across our universities, in particular in facing contemporary meta-challenges.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Electricity, Modelling, Power System	2023	Modelling the impacts of carbon pricing in India’s power system using a dynamic optimization approach	India has a significant importance in achieving the global Paris agreement’s long-term goal as it is the world's third-largest consumer of energy. This paper aims to improve the understanding of the opportunities and constraints of decarbonizing India’s electricity sector and adds to the growing body of literature by modelling the electricity sector in India with a dynamic optimization approach that assesses options for effective greenhouse reductions through carbon pricing. Attaining significant variable renewable energy penetration in India by 2050 is consistent with the lowest cost power generation options identified through our simulations, where solar and wind can provide 66 % of the electricity needs by 2050, even without a carbon price. With a carbon price of US$50/tCO2e, the simulations project that wind and power generation share in the electricity mix will rise to 81 %, leading to significant emission reductions.	More details Read publication
Report	Report	Policy, Transdisciplinary, Research	2023	Understanding how institutions may support the development of transdisciplinary approaches to sustainability research	This article analyses the approaches of academics seeking to engage with private, public and community-based stakeholders through transdisciplinary research about pressing sustainability challenges and, in particular, climate change; it outlines aspects of the institutional factors which influence transdisciplinary research. A qualitative approach was employed in conducting 10 semistructured interviews to analyse the challenges and motivations of academic researchers when working with a range of other stakeholders through transdisciplinary practice.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Hydrogen, Ireland, Techno-economic Analysis	2023	A flexible techno-economic analysis tool for regional hydrogen hubs – A case study for Ireland	The increasing urgency with which climate change must be addressed has led to an unprecedented level of interest in hydrogen as a clean energy carrier. Much of the analysis of hydrogen until this point has focused predominantly on hydrogen production. This paper aims to address this by developing a flexible techno-economic analysis (TEA) tool that can be used to evaluate the potential of future scenarios where hydrogen is produced, stored, and distributed within a region. The tool takes a full year of hourly data for renewables availability and dispatch down (the sum of curtailment and constraint), wholesale electricity market prices, and hydrogen demand, as well as other user-defined inputs, and sizes electrolyser capacity in order to minimise cost.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Policy Simulation, Carbon Budgets, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Sectoral Emission Ceilings, Biofuel, EVs	2023	Policy simulation modelling to inform national carbon budget pathways	Carbon budgets are emerging as a key policy tool to set cumulative targets on greenhouse gas emissions at a national and international level. In this paper, we develop a methodology for simulation modelling of energy demand and carbon dioxide (CO2eq.) emissions to assess the implication of different scenarios on sectoral emissions ceilings and carbon budgets. We demonstrate how this simulation modelling approach to carbon budgets applies to Ireland's Climate Action Bill, which sets a legal obligation to keep within defined sectoral emission ceilings.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Climate, Low Carbon, Ireland, Community	2023	Imagining climate resilient futures: A layered Delphi panel approach	This paper in using a novel application of the Delphi panel method, explores and consolidates the future visions of a low carbon and climate resilient future in Ireland through community-based visioning processes that emerged through co-created, deliberative approaches at local level. It embraces a visioning process that applies a transdisciplinary approach, which aims to match different visions and stakeholder needs, combining bottom-up and top-down perspectives. Community visions were articulated by means of a series of deliberative futures workshops facilitated by the transdisciplinary project research team. Through iterations of the Delphi feedback loop, the notion of deep and shallow agreement is explored to examine the spectrum of consensus to dissent around the co-developed future visions and pathways of climate action, articulated by the Irish community case study.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Energy, Models, Retrofit, Residential, Decarbonisation, Ireland, Climate Policy	2019	Improving energy savings from a residential retrofit policy: a new model to inform better retrofit decisions (2019) Energy and Buildings	Improving energy savings from a residential retrofit policy with better retfofit designs	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Community, Energy Systems Modelling, Transdisciplinary	2023	Doing things differently: Bridging community concerns and energy system modelling with a transdisciplinary approach in rural Ireland	This presentation offers reflections on the experience of co-producing energy strategies on the Dingle peninsula, a rural peripheral region in Ireland's South West. For the past three years, researchers from sociology, community development, and energy engineering have worked in partnership with Ireland's electricity distribution system operator and local non-profit organisations supporting enterprise and community development in the region.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Energy Justice, Energy Poverty, Energy Transition, Energy Vulnerable	2024	A systematic review of the lived experiences of the energy vulnerable: where are the research gaps.	This paper's systematic review of research on the lived experiences of the energy vulnerable reveals 46 peer-reviewed articles published between 2011 and 2021. Its review highlights diverse approaches to exploring energy vulnerability, the range of vulnerable groups investigated and different motivations for focusing on lived experiences. The results point to a number of key gaps in the literature in terms of definitions and terminologies, geographic coverage, gender, life stage (specifically children), ethnicity (ethnic minorities absent) and ability (people with disabilities are a further gap). It concludes that there is a need for more context-specific, mixed-methods and longitudinal studies in this area. Having identified gaps in the literature, it recommends how some of these can be addressed and reflects on how studies focused on the lived experience of energy poverty should advance.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Solar, Ireland, Energy Storage	2023	Systematic bias in reanalysis-derived solar power profiles & the potential for error propagation in long duration energy storage studies.	his study consolidates the literature relating to the systematic bias of model-derived irradiance data and further characterises the same for ERA-5 and MERRA-2, two reanalysis datasets that are frequently used to model renewable power in energy system modelling studies. The bias errors yielded when modelling Solar PV generation for solar parks in Australia and Northern Ireland are compared under the optics of typically clear versus typically cloudy respective climates.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Sustainability, Food, Climate, GHG Emissions	2023	Modelling the integrated achievement of clean cooking access and climate mitigation goals: An energy systems optimization approach	The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal target 7.1, to provide universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy by 2030, must be achieved in the context of rapid reductions in global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. While replacing solid cooking fuels with liquid petroleum gas (LPG) opens questions about the compatibility of energy access and climate mitigation objectives, the environmental impact of 2.6 billion people continuing to rely on solid fuel for cooking and heating is significant. However, models used tomap deep decarbonization pathways typically do not feature a granular pathway for universal clean cooking access, which limits the representation of these two interconnected transitions, mitigating climate change and achieving universal energy access.	More details Read publication
Presentation - research	Presentation - research	Retrofit, Ireland, Climate Action Plan, BER, B2, Domestic, Residential, Challenges, Opportunities, Deep Retrofitting	2020	MaREI Retrofitting Homes Symposium	Researchers from the MaREI Centre will share their insights into the challenges and opportunities faced to effectively retrofit the residential building stock in Ireland.	More details Read publication
Presentation - research	Presentation - research	Net Zero, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Renewable Energy, Climate Policy, Ireland	2020	Should we aim for zero CO2 or 100% RES	Moving to net zero GHG emissions by 2050	More details Read publication
Presentation - research	Presentation - research	COVID-19, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Ireland, Climate Policy	2020	Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Ireland's GHG Emissions	Researchers assess the impacts of COVID-19 Lockdown on Ireland's Greenhouse Gas Emissions	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Energy Efficiency, Residential, Ireland, Emissions, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Climate, Energy Policy	2020	Residential stock data and dataset on energy efficiency characteristics of residential building fabrics in Ireland	This article presents 3 data sources which are utilised in conjunction with a detailed energy system model of the residential sector to explore policy pathways for residential retrofitting	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	TIMES Model, Ireland, Decarbonisation, Energy System Analysis, Scenarios, Carbon Capture and Storage, CCS, Bioenergy, Climate Neutral 2050	2020	Identifying decarbonisation opportunities using marginal abatement cost curves and energy system scenario ensembles	This research explores decarbonization options using an innovative analytical approach that combines energy systems analysis and marginal abatement cost curves (MACCs). System-wide MACCs are derived using scenario ensembles from Irish TIMES energy systems model.	More details Read publication
Report	Report	Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Ireland, Decarbonisation, Emissions, Irish Transportation Sector, Vehicles, Renewable Transport, Least Cost Optimisation	2020	Opportunities to Decarbonise the Irish Transportation Sector	This report describes the findings from tools and models, outlining some of the options for long-term decarbonisation in the Irish transport sector	More details Read publication
Report	Report	TIMES Ireland Model, Policy, Environment, Net Zero GHG Emissions, Climate Mitigation, Energy Technology, Energy Transition	2020	The role of energy technology in climate mitigation in Ireland: Irish TIMES Phase 3	The Irish TIMES (The Integrated MARKAL-EFOM System) Phase 3 project evaluates the role of energy technology in climate mitigation in Ireland	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	TIMES Ireland Model, Policy, Environment, Net Zero GHG Emissions, Climate Mitigation, Energy Technology, Energy Transition	2020	Least cost energy system pathways towards 100% renewable energy in Ireland by 2050	This paper therefore undertakes a whole-system approach and explores optimal pathways towards 100% renewable energy by 2050. The analysis is carried out for Ireland, which currently has the highest share of variable renewable electricity on a synchronous power system.	More details Read publication
Presentation - research	Presentation - research	Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Ireland, Decarbonisation, Emissions, Irish Transportation Sector, Vehicles, Renewable Transport, Least Cost	2021	How and why we travel, mobility demand and emissions from passenger transport	This paper develops the novel open-source Irish Passenger Transport Emissions and Mobility (IPTEM) Model and uses it to calculate passenger transport demand by trip mode, purpose, and distance over the period of 2009 – 2019.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Energy Transition, Climate Policy, Ireland, Retrofit, EV's, Technology Policy Solutions, Climate Change	2022	Achieving the unprecedented: Modelling diffusion pathways for ambitious climate policy targets	Ireland has some very bold targets, as part of a substantial overall greenhouse gas emissions reduction ambition. It is unclear however to what extent these targets are consistent with the pace at which new technologies can enter the market and become widely adopted. This paper grapples with this by combining well-respected and empirically validated estimates of technology diffusion together with energy models.	More details Read publication
Presentation - research	Presentation - research	Ireland, Climate Policy, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Climate Targets, Energy Transition, Decarbonisation	2022	Provisional GHG emissions for 2021	Provisional GHG emissions for 2021 in Ireland highlighting that Ireland is off track to meet climate targets	More details Read publication
Presentation - research	Presentation - research	Decarbonisation, Ireland, Climate Policy, Transportation Ireland, Challenges, Interactions	2022	Scale-up challenges and interaction effect of decarbonisation policy measures -focus on transport	Scale-up challenges and interaction effect of decarbonisation policy measures -focus on transport	More details Read publication
Presentation - research	Presentation - research	Energy Security, Energy Supply, Ireland, Fossil Fuels, Decarbonisation, Climate Policy	2022	Energy and Security of Supply	The current geopolitical situation requires Ireland to re-evaluate our energy security position in relation to gas and gas infrastructure	More details Read publication
Presentation - research	Presentation - research	Energy Systems, Decarbonisation, Climate Policy, Ireland, Economic Growth	2022	How can lower energy demand help Ireland achieve its climate targets	Mitigation pathways describe future emissions that keep global warming below specific temperature limits, Current mitigation scenarios are biased towards growth and technology fixes. Demand side is not well-represented in energy system models due to its complex nature	More details Read publication
Presentation - research	Presentation - research	Carbon Budgets, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Ireland, LULUCF, Challenges	2022	The challenge of allocating Irelands carbon budget among sectors	The Irish Government is currently deliberating on how to allocate nationally-adopted carbon budgets among sectors, a task which is understandably causing heated debates. The key debate is what carbon budget will be allocated to the agriculture sector, which is worth around 40% of overall greenhouse gas emissions (depending on how land use emission, “LULUCF”, is taken into account).	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Low Energy Demand Scenario, Energy Systems Modelling Ireland, Decarbonisation, Mitigation, Pathways, Emissions	2022	Low energy demand scenario for feasible deep decarbonisation-whole energy systems modelling for Ireland	The Irish Low Energy Demand (ILED) mitigation narrative is developed and applied to the TIMES-Ireland Model (TIM), an energy systems optimisation model. ILED represents a scenario where ESDs are decoupled from economic growth by shifting travel, increasing end-use efficiency, densifying urban settlement, focusing on low-energy intensive economic activities and changing social infrastructure.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Carbon Transport Modes, Irish Passenger Transport Emissions and Mobility Model, Times Ireland Model	2022	How and why we travel - mobility demand and emissions from passenger transport	The paper quantifies energy consumption and emissions intensities, and for the first time for Ireland, passenger transport occupancy rates. The findings quantify missed targets in walking and cycling uptake rates.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Emissions, Electric Vehicle Projections, Policy Measures, Decarbonisation	2022	Securing supplies for an electric future	In-depth assessment of the EV battery supply chain and reviews government targets and strategies in this area. It assesses charging infrastructure development targets in key regions.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Decarbonisation, Ireland, Climate Policy, Transportation Ireland, Challenges, Interactions, Light Duty Vehicles, TIMES Ireland Model	2022	Decarbonisation of passenger light duty vehicles using spatially resolved TIMES-Ireland Model	Existing multi-regional national scale energy systems optimisation models (ESOMs) facilitate an improved understanding of spatial dynamics. Yet, region-specific characteristics of transport technologies and infrastructures along with consumer heterogeneity have remained under-investigated. The current paper addresses this gap by developing a multi-regional transport sector within the system-wide TIMES-Ireland Model (TIM).	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Passenger Transport Demand, Fuel Consumption, Irish Passenger Transport Emissions and Mobility Model	2022	Passenger transport demand, fuel consumption, and emissions data for the Irish Passenger Transport Emissions and Mobility (IPTEM) model	The model and the underlying data, details the passenger transport demand by trip purpose (work, shopping, education etc.,), mode type (car, rail, bus, cycling, walking) and trip distance for Ireland over the period of 2009–2019. Passenger occupancy rates for public transport modes in Ireland, CO2 emissions intensities and annual CO2 emissions are also included in the Data in Brief.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Energy Modelling, TIMES Ireland Model, Least Cost Optimisation, Energy Transition, Climate Policy	2022	TIM modelling pathways to meet Irelands long term energy system challenges with the TIMES Ireland Model	Energy systems optimisation modelling (ESOM) is a widely used tool to inform pathways to address long-term energy challenges. This article describes a new ESOM developed to inform Ireland's energy system decarbonisation challenge.	More details Read publication
Policy brief	Policy brief	Sectoral Emission Ceilings, Ireland, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Carbon Budgets	2022	Analysis on the implication of sectoral emissions ceilings	Based on EPA GHG inventory data for 2022, what annual GHG emissions are consistent with sectoral emissions ceilings for the remainder of Carbon Budget 1 and for Carbon Budget 2?	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Irish Car Stock Model, Emissions, Transport, Private Cars, Tax, Regulations	2022	Impact of an emissions-based car tax policy on CO2 emissions and tax revenue from private cars in Ireland	This article assesses private car CO2 emissions and car tax revenue in Ireland over the 10-year period following the introduction of an emissions-based car taxation policy in 2008. This article assesses private car CO2 emissions and car tax revenue in Ireland over the 10-year period following the introduction of an emissions-based car taxation policy in 2008. We build on a model of the Irish car stock, which has new car sales, car fleet mileage, and CO2 emissions intensity data to develop a bottom-up picture of historic CO2 emissions from the car fleet. In this article, we develop a counterfactual scenario following car purchasing trends in EU countries that did not introduce an emissions-based purchase and annual car taxes over the same period.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Decarbonisation, TIMES Ireland Model, Pathways, Energy System Optimisation Models, Residential Sector	2023	Developing decarbonisation pathways in changing TIMES for Irish homes	This paper presents a new model of the residential sector within an energy systems optimisation model (ESOM), which is developed using an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) database and measured energy consumption data, allowing for the heterogeneous depiction of the housing stock.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Energy Security, Energy Supply, Ireland, Fossil Fuels, Decarbonisation, Climate Policy, Power System	2023	Storage research key to reliability	Energy security and climate action must be delivered in parallel to achieve a reliable and affordable future power system	More details Read publication
Policy brief	Policy brief	Transformation, Ireland, Fossil Fuels, Renewable Energy, Policy, Decarbonisation	2024	Ireland’s transformation to a clean and sustainable energy system: Why and how?	Ireland’s legally-binding carbon budgets require a rapid reduction in fossil fuel use, which accounts for around 60% of greenhouse gas emissions. This briefing note describes the main measures necessary to cut fossil fuel use in line with carbon budgets by 2030, and focuses on the five measures that deliver 90% of the GHG savings from the energy system by 2030, required by the Climate Action Plan.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Decarbonisation, Road Freight Transport, Emissions, Trucks, Cost	2024	Decarbonising road freight transport - the role of zero emission trucks and intangible costs	This study investigates intangible costs associated with advanced electric and hydrogen-powered trucks, including recharging/refueling time, cargo capacity limitations, and buyer reluctance towards emerging technologies. Utilising a comprehensive whole-systems modelling approach considering low- and zero-emission fuels, inter-sectoral dynamics, and the carbon budget, we explore cost-optimal decarbonisation pathways for heavy, medium, and light trucks.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Decarbonisation, Residential Sector, Climate Neutrality, Energy Transition, Ireland	2024	Advancing cost-optimal residential decarbonisation pathways, an examination of heat pumps and thermal efficiency	In Ireland, residential energy policy has been influenced by thermal inefficiency, high electricity prices and energy poverty. These factors have driven the fabric-first approach, where buildings must undergo extensive thermal retrofitting to qualify for heat pump subsidies. The cost-effectiveness of this approach has not been properly scrutinised to date. This paper addresses this knowledge gap by exploring the cost-effectiveness of the fabric-first approach and other decarbonisation strategies for the residential sector and broader energy system. The study develops scenarios by modifying the Heat Loss Indicator (HLI) threshold, which evaluates the fabric and ventilation heat loss per unit of floor area and is used to determine heat pump subsidy eligibility. The paper also considers scenarios that permit installing sub-optimal performing heat pumps that do not achieve peak performance levels in dwellings with higher HLIs.	More details Read publication
Presentation	Presentation	Energy System Transition, Climate Neutrality, Cumulative Carbon Budgets, Ireland, Energy Transition, TIMES Ireland Model	2024	Energy System Transition for Climate Neutrality A Country-Level Analysis Using Cumulative Carbon Budgets	Crucial climate goals are not being met Remaining Global Carbon Budget (GCB) for 50% chance of 1.5oC was 500 GtCO2 from 2020, currently 200 GtCO2, and likely zero without significant methane reduction or high climate sensitivity.	More details Read publication
Presentation	Presentation	Decarbonisation, policy measures, CO2 emissions, Energy Transition, Climate Neutrality	2024	The interaction effect of decarbonisation policy measures, quantifying the impact on energy and CO2 emissions		More details Read publication
Presentation	Presentation	Energy Transition, Energy Systems Analysis, Government, Energy Policy, Climate Neutrality	2024	How do we successfully transform energy analysis into Government policy	7 Methods to successfully transform energy analysis into Government Policy	More details Read publication
Book chapter	Book chapter	Climate Policy, Climate Neutrality, Energy Transition, Ireland	2024	Translating research results into policy insights to underpin climate action in Ireland	This chapter presents innovative processes that have been developed and used to bridge the interface between the research ecosystem and policy-making ecosystem. It focuses on a specific case study, namely how energy systems modelling has been used to inform energy and climate mitigation policies in Ireland. We trace the development of energy systems modelling tools and capacity in Ireland over the past 15 years, and the key role it has played in addressing important policy questions related to delivery of a number of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We also outline the parallel evolution of novel research communications methods, proactive engagement programmes with policy practitioners and co-production processes.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Global Warming, Energy Transition, Mitigation, Carbon Budgets, Ireland	2024	Implications of Accelerated and Delayed Climate Action for Ireland’s Energy Transition under Carbon Budgets	We analyse Ireland’s mitigation pathways under equal per-capita carbon budgets using an energy systems optimisation model. Our findings reveal that delayed mitigation brings forward the need for a net-zero target by five years, risks carbon lock-in and stranded assets, increase reliance on carbon dioxide removal technologies and leads to higher long-term mitigation costs. To keep the Paris Agreement targets, countries must set and meet accelerated mid-term mitigation goals and address energy demand.	More details Read publication

Publications

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Delivering Sustainable Development Policy Impact from Research: Case Studies from Ireland

Evaluating the consistency between Ireland’s carbon budget-aligned energy system pathways and EU energy and climate targets

Ireland's carbon emission trends and degrowth oppertunities: Based on modified Tapio - LMDI model

Letter to An Taoiseach & Minister for the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environemnt on Delay in publishing Climate Action Plan 2026.

How much land and power would it take to decarbonise Dublin Airport?

Basing Ireland’s carbon budgets on temperature neutrality would undermine obligations under the Paris Agreement

National temperature neutrality, agricultural methane and climate policy: reinforcing inequality in the global food system

Energy Policy and Modelling Group Research Showcase 2025 Presentations

Can Ireland Still Meet its District Heating Targets by 2030?

Filtered dataset of Irish energy performance certificates: A data driven approach for enhanced building stock modelling

Exploring the Perspectives of Householders on Energy in the Home

Power Sector Overview

Ireland's Energy Transition - The Role and Timeline of Carbon Capture & Removal Technologies

A Preliminary Analysis on the Future Energy Component of Electricity Bills in Ireland

Analysis of the alignment between energy transition pathways for Irish carbon budgets with EW energy and climate targets

Exploring the applicability of "One Size Fits All" road transport decarbonisation strategies; a participatory energy systems modelling comparison of urban and non urban municipalities

Perspectives from the Next Generation" in New Engagement Strategies for Energy Justice

Solar Rollout in Ireland: Revolution or Reinforcing Existing Social Inequity

Data centres in the context of Ireland's carbon budgets

Negative emissions technologies in energy system models and mitigation scenarios - a systematic review

Implications of Accelerated and Delayed Climate Action for Ireland’s Energy Transition under Carbon Budget

Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024 - Chapter 12 - Environment and Energy

Pathways for Ireland's Energy System to 2050

Translating Research Results into Policy Insights to Underpin Climate Action in Ireland

Advancing Cost Optimal Residential Decarbonisation Pathways: An Examination of Heat Pumps and Thermal Efficiency

Is District Heating a cost effective solution to decarbonise Irish buildings?

Decarbonising road freight transport: The role of zero-emission trucks and intangible costs

Ireland's Climate Change Assessment Report - Achieving climate neutrality by 2050

Ireland's Climate Change Assessment Report - Realising the benefits of transition and transformation

Dispersed settlement patterns can hinder the net-zero transition: Evidence from Ireland.

Power sector decarbonization planning considering renewable resource variability and system operational constraints.

Engineering with Social Sciences and Humanities; Necessary Partnerships in Facing Contemporary (Un)Sustainability Challenges?

Modelling the impacts of carbon pricing in India’s power system using a dynamic optimization approach

Understanding how institutions may support the development of transdisciplinary approaches to sustainability research

A flexible techno-economic analysis tool for regional hydrogen hubs – A case study for Ireland

Policy simulation modelling to inform national carbon budget pathways

Imagining climate resilient futures: A layered Delphi panel approach

Improving energy savings from a residential retrofit policy: a new model to inform better retrofit decisions (2019) Energy and Buildings

Doing things differently: Bridging community concerns and energy system modelling with a transdisciplinary approach in rural Ireland

A systematic review of the lived experiences of the energy vulnerable: where are the research gaps.

Systematic bias in reanalysis-derived solar power profiles & the potential for error propagation in long duration energy storage studies.

Modelling the integrated achievement of clean cooking access and climate mitigation goals: An energy systems optimization approach

MaREI Retrofitting Homes Symposium

Should we aim for zero CO2 or 100% RES

Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Ireland's GHG Emissions

Residential stock data and dataset on energy efficiency characteristics of residential building fabrics in Ireland

Identifying decarbonisation opportunities using marginal abatement cost curves and energy system scenario ensembles

Opportunities to Decarbonise the Irish Transportation Sector

The role of energy technology in climate mitigation in Ireland: Irish TIMES Phase 3

Least cost energy system pathways towards 100% renewable energy in Ireland by 2050

How and why we travel, mobility demand and emissions from passenger transport

Achieving the unprecedented: Modelling diffusion pathways for ambitious climate policy targets

Provisional GHG emissions for 2021

Scale-up challenges and interaction effect of decarbonisation policy measures -focus on transport

Energy and Security of Supply

How can lower energy demand help Ireland achieve its climate targets

The challenge of allocating Irelands carbon budget among sectors

Low energy demand scenario for feasible deep decarbonisation-whole energy systems modelling for Ireland

How and why we travel - mobility demand and emissions from passenger transport

Securing supplies for an electric future

Decarbonisation of passenger light duty vehicles using spatially resolved TIMES-Ireland Model

Passenger transport demand, fuel consumption, and emissions data for the Irish Passenger Transport Emissions and Mobility (IPTEM) model

TIM modelling pathways to meet Irelands long term energy system challenges with the TIMES Ireland Model

Analysis on the implication of sectoral emissions ceilings

Impact of an emissions-based car tax policy on CO2 emissions and tax revenue from private cars in Ireland

Developing decarbonisation pathways in changing TIMES for Irish homes

Storage research key to reliability

Ireland’s transformation to a clean and sustainable energy system: Why and how?

Decarbonising road freight transport - the role of zero emission trucks and intangible costs

Advancing cost-optimal residential decarbonisation pathways, an examination of heat pumps and thermal efficiency

Energy System Transition for Climate Neutrality A Country-Level Analysis Using Cumulative Carbon Budgets

The interaction effect of decarbonisation policy measures, quantifying the impact on energy and CO2 emissions

How do we successfully transform energy analysis into Government policy

Translating research results into policy insights to underpin climate action in Ireland

Implications of Accelerated and Delayed Climate Action for Ireland’s Energy Transition under Carbon Budgets

Energy Policy and Modelling Group

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