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Project Code [2024-CE-1266]
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Project title
enhance Climate adaptation and extreme weather Resilience of highly renewable penetrated Irish Electricity network (CRIE)
Primary Funding Agency
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Co-Funding Organisation(s)
n/a
Lead Organisation
University of Dublin, Trinity College (TCD)
Project Abstract
In 2023, 38.9% of electricity generated in Ireland came from renewable. This figure is expected to grow to above 80% in 2030. In line with the 2050 carbon neutrality goal, 100% renewable penetrated national or regional electricity networks are on the way in Ireland. The high penetration of renewables, such as solar and wind, means Irish electrical power systems will be heavily weather-dependent, while extreme weather conditions have become more frequent and intense due to global climate change. The electricity occupies one-third of energy-related emissions in Ireland; however, it’s still not clear how the development of electricity networks will facilitate Ireland’s climate neutrality, and how to make the future weather-sensitive Irish electric power system strong enough to defend against challenging weather conditions in Ireland.
The ambitious 2050 carbon-neutral goal makes it urgent to understand the mutual impacts among natural conditions, engineering reality, and environmental policies. The project aims to enhance climate adaptation and extreme weather resilience of highly renewable penetrated Irish electricity networks. The core concept is to develop systemic studies of mutual impacts among climate challenges, electricity, and environmental policies.
The project will implement historical analysis, advanced predictive models, robust infrastructure designs, and adaptive operational strategies to ensure electricity security towards 2030 80% renewable based electricity and 2050 net zero goals. From power grid planning to system operation, a whole-time scale from decades to sub-seconds is thoroughly studied for climate adaptation and resilience enhancement. This involves leveraging cutting-edge technologies, interdisciplinary research, and stakeholder engagement to create a comprehensive understanding, efficient enhancement action, and feasible decision-making strategy.
Multi-disciplinary knowledge, power system engineering, advanced computer science and statistics, atmospheric sciences, and economics and policy are synthesized within the topic of ‘climate adaptation and resilient defence to complete the project. As the pioneering research, detailed power system static and dynamic analysis and extreme weather activity analysis will be brought together, especially for island systems. Comprehensive environmental policy-informed electricity network models will be constructed and optimized. Advanced machine learning techniques, as well as stochastic dynamic analysis and control, will be involved to assist weather-impacted energy and network analysis and generate efficient resilient defence decisions using cutting-edge deep learning and deep reinforcement learning methods.
Eventually, the project will facilitate Ireland in meeting the 2050 climate-neutral goal by supporting the decision-making of electricity network development, addressing the knowledge gap between environmental goals and engineering reality, and informing environmental policymakers
Grant Approved
€654,953.80
Research Hub
Addressing Climate Change Evidence Needs
Research Theme
Understanding vulnerabilities, risks and adaptation measures at the local level
Initial Projected Completion Date
16/03/2029