Sustainable Energy
Title
Modelling Carbon Tax PolicyProject coordinator(s)
Prof. Margaret O’Mahony
Email: Margaret.omahony@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 2084
Dr. Laurence Gill
Email: gilll@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 1047
Researcher(s)
Assistant Prof. Aonghus McNabolaEmail: amcnabol@tcd.ie
Tel: + 353 1 893 1130
Description
Transport in Ireland in 2004 accounts for approximately 40% of the total final consumption of energy across all sectors and 33% of the total primary energy requirement. Electricity generation and transport are forecast to be the key sectors influencing energy demand in Ireland DCMNR (2006). Reducing energy in transport is a key goal which will need to be achieved to meet Ireland’s Kyoto and prospective post Kyoto commitments to reduce C02. It also is very important to allow Ireland to remain competitive in a future peak oil environment.The overall objective of this research is to establish what carbon related tax policies could be effective in Ireland to deliver an outcome that energy used for car transport could be reduced by 30% by 2020.
- To research carbon related tax policies in use or that have been modelled internationally that could be used in Ireland in the transport sector.
- To rate these policies in terms of their effectiveness.
- To model the impact of the most effective policies identified.
- To analyse the modelled policies against the overall objective.
Title
An Assessment of the Feasibility and Energy Potential of Subterranean Oscillating Water Column (OWC) Wave Energy Converters in Ireland
Project Coordinator(s)
Assistant Prof. Aonghus McNabola
Email: amcnabol@tcd.ie
Tel: + 353 1 893 1130
Dr. Laurence Gill
Email: gilll@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 1047
Research Student(s)
David Carr
Email: dcarr@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 2781
Description
The Oscillating Water Column (OWC) wave energy converter is considered to be one of the most common concepts in use for wave energy capture. However it has yet to be demonstrated that energy can be extracted from ocean waves at an economic rate using OWC technology. This is predominantly due to the initial capital cost of the structure. Previous research has established that the approach of using a subterranean chamber for an OWC held considerable promise for the shoreline capture of ocean wave energy. This involves the implementation of underground technology to construct the chamber within an ocean facing cliff. This form of construction could potentially prove more economically viable than conventional methods of shoreline OWC manufacture. Previous research has also validated the design concepts of constructing an OWC within rock and proved that such a technique could produce acceptable hydrodynamic and pneumatic conversion efficiencies.
This study aims to contribute to information on the feasibility and energy potential of this OWC wave energy concept in Ireland. The methodology adopted to achieve this objective comprises four stages, (i) Site selection study, (ii) Site visit (iii) Wave climate modelling of the selected site, using DHI’s MIKE 21 Spectral Wave Model, and (iv) Hydrodynamic analysis of the subterranean OWC wave energy converter, using the boundary element method (BEM) code, WAMIT v6.4PC.
Loop Head, Co. Clare was selected as a result of the site evaluation process. Wave climate modelling of this site is being carried out to investigate the variation of wave energy around this headland and to determine the available wave energy resource where a subterranean OWC wave energy converter could potentially be located. A plan view of the Loop Head wave climate model can be seen in the attached figure. Hydrodynamic analysis of numerous chamber configurations has been initiated to assess performance and ultimately, will be used to estimate the annual energy production at Loop Head.
Energy Efficiency
Title
Policy, regulation and incentives for sustainable cities: A case study of the energy efficiency regime for Irish housing
Project Coordinator(s)
Dr. Tony Robinson
Email: arobins@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 3919
Prof. Anna Davies
Email: daviesa@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 1554
Research Student(s)
Aimee Byrne
Email: byrnea36@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 3676
Description
This project takes a multidisciplinary approach to examining the current Better Energy Homes Scheme in Ireland. This is a regime which offers grants to homeowners off the cost of certain energy efficiency retrofits in their property. The project uses a combination of methodologies from the disciplines of geography, mechanical engineering and structural engineering to assess the retrofits in terms of policy, implementation, user-attitude and user-behavior, but mainly focuses on the thermal flow and energy use changes. Interviews and surveys are combined with in-depth technical monitoring data to achieve a true assessment of the scheme and allow for recommendations to make it more effective. Figure 1 shows comparative thermal images of a house before and after insulation has been retrofitted into the external wall cavity.
Title
Examining the improved efficiency of renewable energy generation in Ireland
Principal Investigator
Dr. Brian Caulfield
Email: brian.caulfield@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 2534
Collaborators
Dr. Sarah McCormack
Email: sarah.mccormack@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 3321
Prof. Biswajit Basu
Email: basub@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 2389
Research Student(s)
Shane Mullarkey
Email: smullark@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 1440
Description
Little research has been conducted on the economic impact of some recently developed techniques for increased generation efficiency of renewable energy production. Recently developed techniques for improving the generation efficiency of solar and wind energy and estimate how these techniques could impact upon the economic efficiency of renewable energy, will be examined. An approach called data-envelopment-analysis (DEA) will be used to demonstrate how a number of macro-economic benefits could be realised as a result of investing in renewable energy technologies. The results of this project will provide insight into the basis for assessing the impact of improved efficiency of renewable.
Duration
2009 - 2012