Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE)

01 Mai MEGATRENDS – The forces likely to shape work, employment and society in Ireland to 2040 and beyond

Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE)
2023
Megatrends, Download file Voltaire said the present is pregnant with the future and this is surely true of the intersecting forces, plans and events or “trends” that will shape Ireland’s society and economy over the medium term (2040 plus). The likely effects of some of these trends are already evident and others still have to reveal themselves more fully. In addition to the trends factors such as our current base of employment, existing national and sectoral plans as well as natural aspirations for a better society will all likely have a bearing on the shape of the future Ireland... . Executive Summary 1. Context
  • 1.1 Introduction
  • 1.2 Ireland’s Current Business Model
  • 1.3 Are We Over or Under-Educated?
  • 1.4 Irish Government Macro-Planning
  • 1.5 Global Megatrends
2. Exploring the MegaTrends
  • 2.1 Decarbonisation and Climate Change
  • 2.2 New Technology
  • 2.3 The Fourth Industrial Revolution - Industry 4.0
  • 2.4 The Circular Economy
  • 2.5 Remote Working
3. Conclusions and Recommendations.
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07 Avr Significant Gas Fired Generation Required During Transition To Zero Carbon

Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE)
2021
National Energy and Climate Plan, Download file The Irish Government has adopted a challenging target of having 70% of the country’s electricity produced from renewable sources (mainly wind and solar) by 2030. In its newly published report, ‘The Challenge of High Levels of Renewable Electricity in Ireland’s Electricity System’ The Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE), seeks to identify the risks in the transition to renewable electricity and recommend prudent actions by policy makers. There is broad agreement that long term decarbonisation of the planet’s energy systems requires a major shift to electricity as an energy vector. Ireland is planning to have nine hundred thousand electric vehicles on the road by 2030 as well as six hundred thousand heat pumps. Don Moore says “In this context, a failure of the power system would have a catastrophic effect on normal economic life. In order to maintain necessary reliability standards while replacing coal, oil and peat generation, Ireland will require significant gas fired generation for the next two decades.” Gas consumption will reduce as generating units will operate with lower load factors, but peak gas demand for power generation will be significantly more than today. Don Moore states that “Power system reliability is therefore critically dependent on secure primary energy supplies (natural gas) to the Island of Ireland”. By 2030, the island of Ireland will be almost totally dependent on Great Britain (GB) for its gas supply. GB in turn will import up to 75% of its gas due to declining North Sea production. In the Academy’s view, developing a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal in Ireland is highly advisable to ensure secure, diverse and cost-effective gas supplies. There are several major LNG exporting counties, such as Qatar, Algeria, Nigeria, and Russia which have enormous gas reserves, and Don Moore says “ Ireland is one of the very few maritime countries in Europe which does not have an LNG import facility”. The global LNG market is now extremely competitive with over 20 exporting countries and more than 40 importing countries. Alternatives to gas fired generation to support 70% renewable electricity have been proposed, these include: • Pumped Hydro Storage • Compressed Air Storage • Battery Storage • Carbon Capture and Storage • Increased Interconnection • Hydrogen Fuel Options • Biofuels • Marine Energy (Wave/Tidal) • Nuclear Power The Academy’s considered conclusion is that none of these options can be implemented on a scale that would significantly reduce Ireland’s gas fired generation by 2030.
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01 Oct The Future of Electricity Transmission in Ireland

Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE)
2020
The Irish Government has published the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP 2021–2030) which sets out targets for reducing Ireland’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions over the next decade. The plan aims to increase the penetration of renewable electricity generation to 70% by 2030 by incentivising the construction of up to 9.2GW of new renewable energy projects. This amounts to approximately 80% of all current generation capacity in the country. This paper is the first of a series to be produced by the Irish Academy of Engineering examining various hurdles that must be overcome if such a transition is to be successfully accomplished over the next decade. These hurdles include among others: • Large scale investment in new transmission capacity in order to efficiently connect the new generation to the existing transmission system (National Grid). • Measures to ensure short-term system stability given the likely connection of large amounts of non-synchronous generation. • Measures to manage the intermittency inherent in new renewable technologies. • Electrical interconnection to other jurisdictions and the market issues associated with the potential large-scale import and export of electricity. In this paper the IAE focuses on the first item on the above list and seeks to set out the issues – initially from a European perspective. The Academy has raised ten questions in the final summary which it believes require urgent consideration if the NECP targets are to be achieved. Principal among these is the social acceptability of transmission investment among the community at large. Based on European experience, the Academy suggests that the Government must take direct ownership of this issue.  
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01 Juin Lessons from the COVID 19 Experience – Building a Green Future Together

Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE)
2020
This report endeavours to make sense of our shared experience over the last few months of pandemic and lockdown. Positive lessons are drawn that it is hoped will help in overcoming the infinitely greater challenge of climate change and in the process ensure a sustainable future for mankind.  
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01 Mar Ideas for the Programme for Government

Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE)
2020
Programme for Government – Key Points During the next ten years the country faces a range of major challenges that need to be addressed by integrated Government programmes and related allocation of resources. This report highlights a number of these issues and suggests practical measures to address these challenges including : CLIMATE CHANGE, HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION, BALANCED REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT and ENTERPRISE, INNOVATION, EDUCATION.  
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01 Fév Sourcebook of Challenges facing Tertiary Education in Ireland in the coming decade

Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE)
2020
The contents of this version of the Sourcebook of Challenges facing Tertiary Education in Ireland in the coming decade has been reordered to give prominence to its primary aim, namely, to accurately document the informed opinions of a cross- section of those working in and with the third level sector in Ireland. The interviews were carried out in 2018 & 2019.
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22 Oct Response to the Consultation Paper for Successor to Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation

Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE)
2015
Detailed response to structured questionnaire, under 8 headings, from the Government’s interdepartmental committee charged with drawing up a new national strategy. A more business orientated approach recommended.
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21 Oct Lecture Series on Engineering Research & Innovation

Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE)
2013
It was decided by the Academy, following their report “Engineering Research and Irish Economic Development (Dec. 2010)”, that for the greater promotion of its findings and recommendations, to invite four distinguished engineers who have made their names in the international world of engineering innovation, to participate in this lecture series on the topic of Engineering Research and Innovation. This particular publication focuses on the vital role of research in industrial innovation and identifies the specific contributions which the various sectors make:- 1.    Government through its fundamental strategies and its agencies. 2.    Industry with its interaction with the research programmes of engineering schools. 3.    The engineering schools which promote the innovation of undergraduate courses and in their research topics. 4.    The speakers, each of whom is of the highest international standards and who came to Ireland to give these lectures and share their views with us.
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21 Oct IAE Response to Consultation paper for SSTI

Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE)
2015
IAE response to Irish Government’s Consultation Paper for Successor to National Strategy for Science Technology and Innovation.
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21 Oct Reform of the Water Sector in Ireland

Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE)
2012
The Irish Academy of Engineering and Engineers Ireland delivered a joint response to the Water Services Section of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government on 23rd February 2012. This was in response to the Department’s request for the IAE’s/Engineers Ireland’s views on the DoECLG’s consultation paper on: - Water Sector Reform / (Consultation Paper), - Irish Water / Phase 1 Report, - Irish Water / Phase 1 Report, Appendices, and followed on from the earlier publication of another joint IAE/Engineers Ireland report entitled, “Delivering Ireland’s Water Services for the 21st Century” (July 2011)
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