Irish research institutions and industry have secured €27m in energy research funding to date under the Horizon 2020 R&D programme, according to Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.

Horizon 2020 is the EU’s largest research and innovation programme with an energy research budget of €bn for the period 2014 to 2020.

Ireland has also been successful in securing funding in large-scale energy-related projects.

RealValue, a consortium led by Glen Dimplex, won €12m for its energy storage project which will see physical demonstrations of its technology in Ireland, Germany and Latvia.

‘SEAI is helping to build national energy research capacity through its research, development and demonstration programme from which many researchers proceed to European funding’

– DR EIMEAR COTTER, SEAI

National energy research capacity

SEAI, with Enterprise Ireland, works with Irish participants to continue to identify large-scale funding opportunities for Ireland in the energy sphere.

“SEAI is helping to build national energy research capacity through its research, development and demonstration programme from which many researchers proceed to European funding,” said Dr Eimear Cotter, head of low-carbon technologies at SEAI.

“It is particularly pleasing to see Irish SMEs perform well with companies such as NVP Energy and Exergyn successful in drawing down both national and EU funds to support the commercialisation of their products.”

Wind energy in Ireland image via Shutterstock