The document summarizes a meeting on sustainable energy held in Belfast in November 2016. It discusses Ireland's reliance on energy imports, renewable energy targets, grid constraints in meeting renewable targets, and challenges around transitioning to sustainable energy. It also outlines several research projects funded by the Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energy, including projects on wind and tidal turbines, biomass energy, and waste heat recovery.

1. Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energy
EEN Intelligent Energy
Group Meeting
Belfast, November 2016
Sam McCloskey

2. Contents

3. Energy – the global position
Source : International Energy Agency, 2014 World Energy Statistics

4. The All Ireland position
• Copious renewable energy resources
– BUT heavy reliance on imports – 88% RoI (oil & gas) and
100% NI (gas)
• Single Electricity Market
• RES-E 40% target (NI & ROI)
• RES-H 12% ROI, 10% NI
• RES-T 10% ROI (nothing specific in NI SEF)
• DS3 (Delivering a Secure, Sustainable Electricity System)

7. Sustainable Energy –
Current NI position
• 3 Power stations
• 40% target by 2020…..25.4% generated at March 2016 (90.2%
from wind)
• Grid constraints (by December 2015):
– 1,570MW connected or in process of connection
– Need 1600 – 1800 MW to meet 40% target
– Risk to security of supply due to
• Planning delays N/S interconnector
• Compliance with EU Emissions Directive – withdrawal of capacity at
Ballylumford (510MW steam) & Kilroot
• Moyle Interconnector fault
• No allocated innovation spend by system operator (SONI)
• Electricity Market Reform – CfD’s

8. MATRIX SEHP
• Intelligent Energy
Systems
• Assisting in coordinating
the transition
• Collaborative Network
application
• Seeking EU funding
opportunities

9. An Introduction to CASE
• £10M Centre for industry driven research
• Potential £5M funding over 5 years from Invest NI
• Additional leveraged funding
• Up to 75% funding for collaborative research projects
• Will fund research projects only
• Aligns renewable energy expertise at QUB / UU /
AFBI with the research needs of participating
companies

10. The QUESTOR Centre
• Founded in 1989
• The only Centre outside the US to be part of the National
Science Foundation’s (NSF) Model
• Leveraged £40m funding – average £1.5m / year
• ATWARM – Marie Curie ETN Water [Complete]
• ATBEST – Marie Curie ETN Biogas [Complete June 2016]
• REMEDIATE – Marie Curie ETN Contaminated Land
Remediation [Ongoing]

11. Academic Partners
• Queen’s University Belfast (UK) – Lead Partner
• Dublin City University (RoI) – 2005
• Stevens Institute of Technology (US) –2006
• Dalhousie University (Canada) – Nov 2007
• University of Duisburg Essen (Germany) – Nov 2007
• The Institute for Water Research (Germany) – Nov 2007
• Cranfield University (UK) – May 2008
• AFBI (UK) – May 2010
• Dalian University of Technology (China) – April 2011
• Liaoning Shihua (Petrochemical)University (China) – April 2011

12. CASE Steering Group
Michael
Robinson
Trevor Haslett CBE -
Chair
Robert Brennan
B9 Organic
Energy
Colin Spence
FAST
Technologies
Thomas Cromie
Agri AD
David Surplus
B9 Group
John Toner
WIS
Roger Henderson
NIE
Adam Holland
FASTANK
Professor Neil Hewitt,
UU
Professors Trevor
Whittaker / Peter
Robertson, QUB
Chris Johnston,
AFBI
Dr Wilson
McGarel, Globus 3
Michael McSherry,
McLaughlin &
Harvey
Mike Jackson,
Energy Trading
Ireland

13. Forged links

14. Forged links

15. Turbines
• Wind, wave and tidal turbines
• Improved design and manufacture:
whole life cycle, carbon footprint;
use of composites - new materials, fibres, hybrids
• Resource and site characterisation:
modelling & measurement
• Technology breakthroughs:
blade technology/manufacture;
materials; gear boxes; generator technology

16. • Smart-grid challenges: Voltage control; Real and Reactive power
control
• Generation: Device characteristics of emerging distributed generation
(DG) technologies
• Storage technologies : Large & small scale
“The maximum demand in the province is around 1,800MW, but on a
summer night, it is around only 600MW. If it is a windy summer night
and there is 1,500/1,600 MW of wind, it cannot be used because there
is nowhere for the power generated from it to go. (DETI Barriers
report, quoting NIE)
• System Integration : Grid infrastructure
Energy Systems & Integration

17. Energy from Biomass
• Solid biomass to energy via thermal routes: holistic
approach from production to end-use ensuring consistent, high
quality fuel; technology optimised for biomass resource.
• Anaerobic Digestion: evaluation of wastes,
manures and energy crops including grass silage
– a potential 200-300MWe; technology optimisation
and efficiency improvement.
• Biogas upgrading & energy conversion:
developments in upgrading and processing of
biogas and the onward use of the biomethane in
fuel cells or conversion to liquid biofuels.

18. Triple T’s
• 1/10th
scale testing
• Array – tidal turbines
• Test tank, sheltered lake, lough
• Mix of local SME’s and international partners
• QUB - academic lead
• Applied Renewables Research – industrial lead
• ~£1m funding (over three projects)
• WORLD FIRST happening in Northern Ireland!

19. Pelletisation Project - READ
• Value: £497,109
• 36 months (March 2014 – March 2017)
• Project Partners:
– Fuel Pod Systems, B9 Organic Energy Ltd, Agri AD, MPS
Ltd, QUB, UU, AFBI
• CASE funding: £372,832
• Development of pellets from anaerobic digestate
– Gasification / pyrolysis
– Slow release fertiliser

20. Waste Heat Recovery Project
• Value: £487,700
• Duration: 24 months
• Project Partners:
– B9 Organic Energy, Thermtech, AgriAD, NI Water, QUB
• CASE funding : £365,775
• Enhancements to the recovery of waste heat from
mobile and static engines – Organic Rankine Cycle

21. Dual Fuel Vehicle Modelling
• Value: £349,717
• Duration: 24 months
• Project Partners:
– AgriAD, Northern Ireland Water, TG Haulage, QUB
• CASE funding: £262,288
• Modelling a range of engines and scenario’s to
increase engine efficiency and reduce carbon & ghg
emissions

22. Tension Pile Foundations
• Value: £140,000
• Duration: 12 months
• Project Partners:
– McLaughlin & Harvey, Aquamarine Power,
Scotrenewables, QUB
• CASE Funding : £104,000
• Extension of early McL&H research. Detailed data
analysis and further testing of scaled version of the
prototype.

23. Fatty Acids Catalysis
• Value: £526,288
• Duration: 24 months
• Project Partners:
– Oleon [Belgium], MOF Technologies[NI], Caterwaste [NI],
QUB
• CASE Funding : £394,716
• Creation of fatty acids and fatty hydrocarbons at
much lower temperatures and pressures than
traditionally – thereby increasing energy efficiency.
Novel production / conversion to biofuels.

24. SUBB
• Value: £420,254
• Duration: 2 Years
• Project Partners: Urban Forest, Tree Maintenance,
Hegan Biomass, RSPB, Harp Renewables, Agri AD,
Original Heating, AFBI
• CASE Funding : £315,191
• Sustainable Utilisation of Underutilised Biomass
Boiler Fuels

25. Coleraine Microgrid
• Value: £48,736
• Duration:6 months
• Project Partners: B9 Energy Storage, Drilling &
Pumping Supplies, Energy Trading Ireland, Star
Refrigeration, McLaughlin & Harvey, Causeway Coast
& Glens Council, Ulster University
• CASE Funding : £36,552
• Techno-economic assessment of a proposed district
energy system for Coleraine

26. Biogas to Biorefinery
• Value: £206,657
• Duration: 2 years
• Project Partners: Agri AD, Kilmoyle Energy, Bridge &
York Capital Partners, QUB
• CASE Funding : £154,993
• Life Cycle Assessment and Funding Evaluation Tool
for biogas opportunities in Northern Ireland

27. Project List
• 45 companies
participating
• 14 projects
• New call opened 05th
September – closes 14th
October 2016
*Completed projects
^ Signing collaboration agreements
READ £372,832
DUAL FUEL £262,288
WHR £365,774
TTT2 £115,652*
TENSION PILE
FOUNDATIONS
£102,897*
FATTY ACIDS CATALYSIS £394,716
TTT3 £516,237
BIOGAS TO BIOREF £154,993
SUBB £315,191
SENERGY^ £196,747
COLERAINE MICROGRID £36,552
BRILL^ £98,206
WHR CONTROLS^ £225,123
PHOTOCATALYSIS^ £381,740
TOTAL £3,538,948

28. Headline Opportunities
- Early wins : TTT’s
£115K funding has leveraged:
•£140K actual contracts
•£225K pipeline of potential contracts (near future)
•USA Prize $1.2m potential
•£429,892 leveraged funding (3successful applications from TTT partners (EU /
Wave Energy Scotland))
•1 fte for 12 months (PDRA)
•Transfer of PDRA to associated partner on TTT3 as FT employee
•New successful CASE project application (2 posts for PDRA x 24 mths)
•Interest in use of Strangford Lough as test site
•2 jobs for individuals associated with Schottel
•At least 7 published papers
•Business Development / Networking opportunities
•Strong global interest in project results through dissemination activity

29. What are the pitfalls?
• Contractual negotiations get in the way!
• Conflicting goals
– Too commercial / too academic ?
• Complicated R&D funder rules
• Too many managers
– Especially in a large consortium
• Managing expectations throughout – level of support,
timescales for delivery, IP…….
• Not engaging with all stakeholders

30. Contact Details
www.case-research.net
Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energy
David Keir Building
Stranmillis Road
Belfast, BT9 5AG
Tel: +44(0)28 9097 5577
Fax: +44(0)28 9066 1462
s.mccloskey@qub.ac.uk