UCC to lead Rinn Energy, a new Research Ireland centre in energy system decarbonisation

Researchers at University College Cork (UCC) will lead three new Research Ireland centres. The announcement was made today by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, who also announced a new enhanced research national network, 'Rinn'.

UCC will lead Rinn Energy, which will drive Ireland’s energy system decarbonisation. UCC’s research flagship, Tyndall National Institute, will lead Rinn Semiconductors which is set to position Ireland as a global leader in next-generation semiconductor technologies. UCC will also co-lead Rinn Artificial Intelligence, that will address some of the greatest challenges and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence and data science. These three Rinn centres at UCC comprise a combined funding investment of €244 million.

In addition, UCC researchers are co-investigators in Rinn Pharma & Biopharma and Rinn Advanced Therapies, and researchers across the University have a significant footprint in all seven Rinn centres that were announced today. The first phase of the seven new Research Ireland Rinn centres will operate over the next eight years, comprising an overall investment of €460 million.

Making the announcement, Minister Lawless said: “The scale and scope of this €460 million investment is a powerful statement of Ireland’s ambition in research and innovation. Our higher education institutions and enterprise collaborators have been critical to that success. With these seven new Rinn, we are building on this progress by supporting talent, strengthening industry partnerships, attracting foreign direct investment, advancing indigenous industry growth, promoting regional development, and enabling Ireland to remain internationally competitive.”

Professor John O’Halloran MRIA, President of UCC said: "The establishment of the Rinn research network is a welcome step forward for Ireland’s research and innovation ecosystem. This strategic, coordinated investment in research excellence aligns with our UCC Futures research framework and reflects a shared commitment to strengthening interdisciplinary capacity, generating and disseminating knowledge and enhancing international competitiveness. We welcome the opportunity to contribute to a nationally connected research landscape that fosters talent and drives innovation to deliver meaningful societal impact."

Rinn Energy - A whole system approach to renewable energy

Co-directed by Professor Jimmy Murphy, School of Engineering & Architecture at UCC, and Professor Lisa Ryan, University College Dublin, the €51.7 million funded Rinn Energy will drive energy system decarbonisation by delivering an ambitious, world-leading, and scientifically excellent research programme. It will consolidate expertise from ten institutions, integrating engineering, economics, policy, and the social sciences to take a whole system approach from renewable energy supply and smart grids to end-use in transport, industry, and communities. The research programme is focused across eight integrated thematic areas addressing technological innovation, offshore renewable energy, smart grids, Power-to-X solutions, energy economics, policy development, and societal engagement.

"Rinn Energy represents a new departure in research collaboration in the decarbonisation sector. It will address critical topics related to security of supply and climate change whilst facilitating the energy transition from fossil fuels in a societally acceptable manner," said Professor Murphy.

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