2025: The Energy Transition – What is the 2050 Action plan and timeline?
This report by the Irish Academy of Engineering identifies three issues that will affect Ireland’s ability to achieve climate neutrality by 2050: Availability of technologies to support decarbonisation of the electric sector; Implementation of large energy infrastructure projects on the supply side; and Electrification of energy services on the demand side. The report focuses on the supply side challenges of technology and project delivery, together with the other two legs of the energy trilemma beyond sustainability, namely energy security and cost.
2023: A Commentary on the Medium Term Prospects for Ireland’s Hydrogen Economy
This report by the Irish Academy of Engineering examines the use of green hydrogen gas – produced by the electrolysis of water and powered by renewable electricity – to assist in the decarbonisation process in Ireland.
2023: Irish Water Services in the 21st Century – The Irish Academy of Engineering
This report by the Irish Academy of Engineering discusses findings from a high level strategic assessment of water services in the Republic of Ireland and the role of Uisce Eireann/Irish Water. It reviews the progress to date in the life of the utility and considers the challenges it is likely to face in the period to 2040. Recommendations are offered to address those challenges.
2023: Megatrends – The Irish Academy of Engineering
This report examines the forces likely to shape work, employment, and society in Ireland to 2040 and beyond. While numerous global trends of interest or concern are readily identifiable, the report focuses on the following: Decarbonisation and Climate Change; New Technology; The 4th Industrial Revolution; The Circular Economy; and Remote Working.
2023: Decarbonisation of the aviation sector through the production of sustainable fuels – National Academy of Technologies of France
In October 2021, the Energy Division of the NATF launched a study on the decarbonisation of aviation, and more specifically on the large-scale production of sustainable fuels. The scope of the study is to examine the first steps of an energy and industrial policy that will enable the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuels on the scale needed in the next decade.
2022: Towards 2040 – The Atlantic City Regions [The Irish Academy of Engineering]
This report highlights the importance of the four Atlantic Cities in achieving balanced regional development and in energizing their catchment regions. The National Development Plan has set ambitious population growth targets for these cities by 2040. The report recommends the prioritization of key infrastructure projects and actions necessary to ensure sustainable development. Consisting of in-depth analysis and recommendations on infrastructure improvements in the areas of Energy, Broadband, Transport, Ports, Flood Risk Management and Water Services, the report also calls out the urgent need for reform of the development consent system.
2021: Sustainable Electricity in 2030. [The Irish Academy of Engineering]
“Faced with the most challenging energy transition in history, the Academy is concerned at the slow pace at which policy change is being implemented, at the lack of a coherent financial and economic analysis and at the failure to efficiently manage reliability risk.” This report poses important questions that must be addressed to speed the transition in order to achieve the ambitious targets that have been set.
2021: Innovation in the Food Industries: Impacts of the Digital Revolution [National Academy of Technologies of France]
The appropriation of digital technologies, artificial intelligence and data-driven learning for more effectively designing, manufacturing, controlling and distributing food that meets consumer demands and respects environmental constraints – for the food industries this is a necessity and a great ambition that the public authorities must actively support.
2021: The Challenge of High Levels of Renewable Electricity in Ireland’s Electricity System. [Irish Academy of Engineering]
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 Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE) seeks to identify the risks in the transition to renewable electricity and recommend prudent actions by policy makers. Irish Academy of Engineering
2019: Strengthening the Growth Finance Ecosystem in Germany and in Europe. In addition to the mobilization of traditional venture capital, this study highlights alternative forms of financing, particularly the interfaces between high-tech growth companies, established businesses and academic institutions. acatech
2019: Gene Editing. An expert panel set up to consider the implications of new gene-technologies in healthcare, pest control and the primary industries, has concluded there is a need to move on from a black and white view of “GM or not GM” to a more nuanced view that recognizes a wide range of applications of the technology, some of which may be more acceptable to New Zealand. Royal Society Te Aparangi
2019: Artificial Intelligence in Aotearoa. The paper, report, and videos explore what the growing use of artificial intelligence could mean for Aotearoa and how to ensure that all New Zealanders can prosper in an AI world. The videos feature a digital human talking about artificial intelligence. Royal Society Te Aparangi
2019: Evidence Summary on Plastics in the Environment. “There is growing concern about the use of plastics and their effects on the environment and human health. This document sets out how plastics are made, used and disposed of. It also covers how plastics enter the environment and the risks plastics pose to wildlife and humans.” Royal Society Te Aparangi