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

THE UNIVERSITY of Limerick and the ESB will be working together in support of Ireland’s energy transition following the signing of a deal between the two institutions.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) 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.

The collaboration also extends to the organisations’ joint efforts in the Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce. 

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.

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“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,” Prof Kennedy added.

An initial portfolio of projects has been identified which includes 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.