A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between ESB and University of Limerick (UL) committing 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.
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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."
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."
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.
