Research in this area is focused around identification, exploitation and primary conversion of sustainable energy resources to useable forms. It is particularly focused on offshore renewable energy (wave, tidal stream and wind). This area of research has expertise that will accelerate the reduction of costs of development and deployment of offshore renewable energy technologies. These include:
(i) Ocean Energy (tidal stream and wave): observations of currents and waves and high-fidelity, high-resolution hydrodynamic modelling; data monitoring and forecasting for input to control ocean energy systems.
(ii) Mechanical Engineering: finite element mechanical models of offshore engineering structures; novel composite materials; structural integrity and fatigue methodology; optimisation of manufacturing processes for costly components.
(iii) Marine Engineering: observations and characterisation of seabed geology for device foundations; predictive modelling of seabed engineering properties; sediment transport for optimum cable routes.
(iv) Environmental Assessments: observations of biodiversity and ecological modelling; strategic (regional) environmental assessments based on ecosystem analysis.
(v) Socio-economics and Policy: economics of the marine sector; ecological economic modelling; regulatory processes for offshore renewable energy generation; marine spatial planning, consenting and governance.
People
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Prof. Colin Brown Earth and Ocean Sciences Phone: (091) 49 2691; Email: colin.brown@nuigalway.ie ——— Prof. Brown is the Director of the Ryan Institute, and is the Project Manager for the €3.1M Griffith Biogeoscience Project. His research interests include: (i) investigating the structure of the crust (ii) electromagnetic induction methods (iii) acoustic, and seismic, imaging and classification of sediments (iv) marine habitat mapping using remotely operated vehicles. |
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Dr. Michael Hartnett Civil Engineering Phone: (091) 49 2502; Email: michael.hartnett@nuigalway.ie ——— Dr. Hartnett is the Research Director of the Marine Modelling Centre. Activities within the centre include: deep ocean water circulation modelling; estuarine and coastal circulation modelling; nutrient modelling; water quality modelling; biological modelling; heavy metal modelling; wave climate modelling; and modelling air-sea interfaces. |
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Prof. Sean Leen Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering Tel: (091) 49 5955; Email: sean.leen@nuigalway.ie ——— Prof. Leen’s main interest is in the development of computational solid mechanics solutions related to the ‘Materials for Energy’ theme. Examples are the: (i) development and analysis of novel floating concepts for offshore wind energy and (ii) development of structural integrity methods for use of composite materials in seawater environments. |
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Dr. Stephen Nash Civil Engineering Phone: (091) 49 3738; Email: stephen.nash@nuigalway.ie ——— Interests include physical and computer modelling of oceanic, estuarine and freshwater systems. In the area of Renewable Energy research, Dr. Nash is heavily involved in the modelling of tidal energy resources and tidal stream turbines. He is working closely with Dr. Micheal Harnett on the INTERREG IV funded MAREN (MArine Renewable ENergy: Energy Extraction and Hydro-environmental aspects) project. |
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Dr. Nathan Quinlan Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering Phone: (091) 49 2726 ; Email: nathan.quinlan@nuigalway.ie ——— Dr.Quinlan’s research interests are in fluid dynamics; with applications to the characterisation, analysis and design of renewable and conventional energy conversion systems. His group uses particle image velocimetry and computational fluid dynamics, and are developing novel computational approaches which are particularly suited to marine applications. |
Some Active Renewable Resources Projects
- EN-2009-12: Predictive Irish Sea Models (PRISM)
- EN-2009-13: Storms and surges in Irish coastal waters
- EN-2008-4: Energy and environmental assessments of tidal stream, wave and offshore wind energy resources in Ireland
