8. ENERGY TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND DEMONSTRATION

The SEAI is refining the evaluation metrics to ensure that selected investment projects continue reflecting the priorities and needs of the Irish energy and the low-carbon technology RD&D sector.

However, there remains the need to advance key performance indicators and project milestones that are set ex ante to project commencement. This will facilitate progress monitoring in each of the funded programmes and also allow for assessing the value obtained from the investments. Good progress in this was made in 2017 and 2018.

International collaboration

Ireland is continuously expanding its international RD&D co-operation. The country is a member in eight IEA technology collaboration agreements, with the SEAI acting as Ireland’s signatory. Membership in the IEA Technology Collaboration Programmes (TCPs) reflects the Irish energy RD&D priorities (Table 8.1). The SEAI has undertaken a strategic review of Ireland’s involvement in the TCPs and is actively encouraging the Irish RD&D community to propose participation in additional TCPs. Ireland is not a member of the Clean Energy Ministerial and Mission Innovation.

Table 8.1 Ireland’s membership in IEA TCPs, 2018

Irish energy RD&D is also supported through the EU framework research programmes. The government has an ambitious target under the Horizon 2020 programme, aiming to receive EUR 85 million from the Horizon 2020 energy work programme. Ireland secured funding of approximately EUR 40 million for energy-related projects up to the end of 2016 (the first half of the Horizon 2020 funding programme), mainly in the areas of biofuels and ocean energy projects. Ireland has an above-average success rate with its applications for Horizon 2020 funding. Ireland has also joined the European Research Area Networks transnational funding programme in the areas of regional smart/distributed power systems and ocean energy since the last IDR in 2012.

Assessment

Ireland’s three-year average (2013-15) of public investment in energy RD&D was equal to approximately EUR 40 million. This indicates recognition by the government of the benefits obtained through enhanced research activities, for the energy sector and also for the economy and society as a whole. The IEA congratulates the government for this.

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Ireland has achieved world-class energy RD&D output, and the IEA encourages the authorities to maintain funding levels at the IEA average or above. The government’s target to increase the investment in total RD&D to 2.5% of the GNP by 2020 is a welcome decision.

Renewable energy technologies receive nearly half of the total public energy-related RD&D spending. Other power and storage technologies, as well as cross-cutting technologies, receive most of the remainder. Increases in funding will help to scale up the country’s energy modelling capacity and allow a stronger focus on technologies such as bioenergy and ocean energy, which have large potential but need development to become commercial.

Globally renewed interest in hydrogen has manifested in recent years, as it has proven to be an increasingly promising element for future energy supply. Its potential for mobility and industrial applications is of interest to the global research community.

The Irish government should intensify research on hydrogen and biogas, which could offer substantial potential benefits in terms of decarbonising the gas supply, act as a means for long-term storage of wind power and prolong use of the existing gas infrastructure. However, it is important to link any research to a clear understanding of the supply chain requirements, technical and safety considerations and cost-benefit assessment.

Energy research in Ireland is closely linked to the country’s overall energy policy priorities, focusing on longer-term decarbonisation of the energy sector and sustainable living. The government seeks to ensure co-ordination among the numerous agencies and research institutions concerned with energy RD&D. The SEAI plays a key role in ensuring all parties work closely together, including through strategic cross-government partnerships. Closer co-ordination among government departments would increase synergies among the country’s energy, environmental, climate change, transport, agricultural and land-use policies, and would support stronger outcomes for the funding employed.

There is no comprehensive overview of the focus areas and totality of energy-related projects funded by the many research agencies. This overview is lacking for energy RD&D undertaken in the private sector. The IEA therefore welcomes the ongoing efforts by the SEAI in creating a detailed national project inventory that will provide a consolidated overview of the full spectrum of ongoing energy RD&D in the country. The SEAI is refining the methodology for future collection of data about national public investment in energy RD&D. Such an inventory should ideally also cover the private sector to the extent possible to allow for the most complete knowledge base.

The IEA encourages Ireland to continue refining the development of key performance indicators set ex ante to facilitate reporting against the real progress made. These key performance indicators and the homogeneous metrics developed by the SEAI should also allow assessment of the value/outcome obtained for the funding deployed. This is of particular importance in light of the government’s ambition to position the country as a leading European energy innovation hub, and to attract global companies to base (part of) their energy research activities in Ireland, as set out in the 2015 White Paper and the 2016 Energy Research Strategy.

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8. ENERGY TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND DEMONSTRATION

Ireland is strongly engaged in international RD&D co-operation. International engagement is closely aligned with national research priorities. Ireland is a member in eight IEA TCPs and continues to be actively involved in the EU Strategic Energy Technology Plan Steering Committee, which is a forum relating to Horizon 2020. Ireland also participates in a range of IEA standing groups and committees.

Recommendations

The government of Ireland should:

Bring the refinement of the evaluation of energy RD&D programmes and key performance indicators to an early conclusion to allow reporting against the expected outcomes and the value obtained against the funding provided.

Ensure that public spending on RD&D on energy is sufficient to support the government’s long-term energy sector targets.

Expand RD&D activities and participation in research and collaborative work to support the evidence base relating to hydrogen and other emerging alternative technologies. The potential opportunities, subject to technical and safety considerations, for mixing hydrogen in the existing gas infrastructure to support security of supply and the decarbonisation of gas supply should be noted.

References

DBEI (Department of Business, Enterprise & Innovation), 2018, The Research and Development Budget (R&D) 2017-2018, DBEI, Dublin, https://dbei.gov.ie/en/Publications/Publication-files/The-R-D-Budget-2017-2018.pdf.

DCENR (Department for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources) (2016), Energy Innovation Ireland, DCENR, Dublin, www.dccae.gov.ie/enie/energy/publications/Documents/6/ERSG%20Report%20140316_No_WM.pdf.

EC (European Commission), 2018, European Innovation Scoreboard 2018, Luxembourg, http://ec.europa.eu/growth/industry/innovation/facts-figures/scoreboards/index_en.html.

Government of Ireland (2018), A Programme for a Partnership Government – Annual Report 2018, Government of Ireland, Dublin, www.taoiseach.gov.ie/eng/Work_Of_The_Department/Programme_for_Government/Progra mme_for_Government_Annual_Report_20181.pdf.

IEA (International Energy Agency) (2018), IEA Energy Technology RD&D 2018 (database), OECD/IEA, Paris, www.iea.org/statistics/.

IrBEA (Irish Bioenergy Association) (2017), Guidance on Sustainability Analysis of Irish Bioenergy Pathways using Life Cycle Assessment Methods, IrBEA, Dublin, www.seai.ie/resources/publications/IrBEA_LCA__Final_Report_RDD_111.pdf.

SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland) (2017a), Statement of Strategy 2017-2021, SEAI, Dublin, www.seai.ie/resources/publications/6670_SEAI_Strategy_Report_FA9.pdf.

SEIA (2017b), Rebiogen Community Sustainable Energy Centres – A Model for Ireland, SEAI, Dublin, www.seai.ie/resources/publications/RDD_RebioGen.pdf.

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