EFACE

The Irish energy system will continue to undergo a transition towards low life-cycle carbon emissions through further renewable energy deployment. A successful and sustainable transition presents challenges related to grid stability of intermittent renewable electricity as well as needing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the agriculture and transport sectors via a circular economy approach.

The EFACE team will examine diversification of agricultural output through the production of renewable energy in the form of biomethane, coupled with the generation of biofertilisers to reduce fossil based mineral fertilisers. Furthermore, for the first time in Ireland, electrofuels will be investigated in the form of hydrogen, providing use for electricity from wind turbines when demand for electricity is low. The solution presented is the assessment of a Power to Gas (electrofuel) facility at the DePuy Synthes site in Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork with the SFI MaREI Centre, Gas Networks Ireland (GNI) and DePuy Synthes agreeing to collaborate as key initial stakeholders to progress the solution. It is expected that the EFACE project will generate a range of societal impacts including the promotion of renewable technologies (in Agriculture and Industry), the production of sustainable, renewable fuels (in Transport), the circular economy (in Energy) and climate mitigation (Climate).