University of Limerick and ESB commit to work together to support Ireland’s energy transition

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between UL and ESB today which commits both organisations to collaborate in areas including education, teaching, and training, research and development, international co-development including the European Union, and commercial development, along with services and facility access.

The MOU aims to support Ireland’s transition to renewable sources of energy in line with ESB’s Net Zero by 2040 strategy, and UL’s commitment to reach carbon neutrality by 2030.

As part of the agreement, ESB and UL will collaborate in the fields of education, research, and commercialisation related to the generation, conversion, storage, and efficient use of clean and renewable energy in Ireland.

The collaboration also extends to the organisations’ joint efforts in the Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce. The MOU will seek to accelerate research, development, innovation, and skills programmes while exploring opportunities in the wider Shannon Estuary. Furthermore, the collaboration seeks to maximise opportunities in Horizon Europe, European Green Deal, and other international co-development initiatives.

It was signed today at a ceremony on campus by UL Vice President Research Professor Norelee Kennedy, Provost and Deputy President Professor Shane Kilcommins and Ciaran McManus, Asset Development Manager at ESB.

UL Vice President Research Professor Norelee Kennedy said: “Signing this agreement shows UL’s commitment to work closely with our valued partners and particularly with the ESB as Ireland’s premier energy company to develop new and renewable practices that can look to change the future of the industry.

“Industry partnerships serve as vital catalysts that propel universities into the forefront of cutting-edge research, accelerating the advancement of the knowledge economy. By fostering collaborations with industry leaders such as ESB, UL is embracing the imperative of research for real-world applications, unlocking limitless possibilities for innovation, economic growth, and societal progress.

“This collaboration seeks to maximize opportunities and leverage the respective strengths of both parties to create competitive proposals in international initiatives. It is a very exciting day for both institutions.”

UL Provost and Deputy President Professor Shane Kilcommins said it was a “fantastic, really exciting collaboration.

“This agreement between UL and ESB builds upon a previous partnership which supported world-leading research for clean energy through ESB PhD scholarships and the donation of an installation featuring an original Francis Turbine runner from ESB's Ardnacrusha Power Station.

“The runner continuously generated clean electricity for 66 years and now sits proudly in the courtyard behind our Bernal Institute, which fittingly is a hothouse of impactful climate research.

“Through these strategic partnerships, UL is underlining its unwavering commitment to growing joint research projects and relevant educational programs in the realm of clean energy and sustainable development.”

Commenting on the announcement, Ciaran McManus, Asset Development Manager at ESB, said: “I am delighted to be here today for the signing of this agreement with University of Limerick. ESB has a long-standing history of working with University of Limerick and this partnership is a further testament to the role that we believe the wider Mid-West region will play in delivering renewable energy projects for Ireland. I am looking forward to seeing how this partnership will grow and help strengthen the delivery of our Net Zero by 2040 strategy at ESB.”

An initial portfolio of projects has been identified which include opportunities for employee training and development, student education, co-op placements, and internships. ESB and UL will also work together to explore renewable energy projects across various UL campuses.

ESB and UL have a strong history of partnering together to deliver projects. This includes an agreement in 2018 which supported world-leading research for clean energy through ESB PhD scholarships and the donation of an installation featuring an original turbine runner from ESB's Ardnacrusha Generating Station.

Professor Luuk van der Wielen, director of the Bernal Institute at UL, who is the University’s representative on the Shannon Region Economic Taskforce, said: “The ESB-UL collaboration aims to accelerate research, development, innovation, and skills programs while exploring opportunities in the wider Shannon Estuary as a European-scale living lab.

“The agreement is a logical next step from our joint efforts in the Shannon Region Economic Taskforce, which emphasised integration and investment in innovation, research, and education as critical themes for economic development.”

The collaboration also aligns with the +CityxChange program, an EU initiative involving ESB, UL, Limerick City and County Council and others to develop projects in climate-friendly and sustainable urban environments.