University College Cork is looking for a research fellow for the ClimEnergise project: Apply Now

Ednah Carrick August 21, 2025

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Closing Date: 12 September 2025

University College Cork is looking for a research fellow for the ClimEnergise project: Apply Now

University College Cork (UCC) is hiring an experienced research fellow for the ClimEnergise project. The research fellow for the ClimEnergise project will:

Work at the intersection of climate science, energy, and power systems
Develop a framework to translate climate signals into cost-optimal, operationally feasible investment decisions.

This position is part of the ClimEnergise project, funded by Met Éireann, at the UCC Sustainability Institute, in collaboration with colleagues Prof. Hannah Daly, Dr Paul Deane, Prof. Brian Ó Gallachóir, and Dr Fionn Rogan.

Project Details

Title: ClimEnergise (Climate-Informed Energy Systems Planning to Support Ireland’s Net Zero Ambitions)

Concept and focus

The energy sector is deeply influenced by weather and climate. Short-term weather fluctuations and long-term seasonal or multi-decadal climate variability affect all aspects of energy systems. The transition to clean technologies further deepens the connection between energy systems and climate science. Renewable sources such as wind, solar, hydropower, and biomass are inherently weather-dependent, while their long-term availability and patterns of energy demand are shaped by broader climatic conditions. These dependencies pose significant challenges to the feasibility, reliability, and dispatchability of zero-carbon energy systems.

Additionally, climate change, including global warming, shifting regional weather patterns, and more frequent and intense extreme weather events, significantly impacts the energy sector Extreme events, such as prolonged low wind speeds, cold snaps, and heatwaves, have demonstrated their potential to disrupt energy prices and threaten the security of critical energy services. A crucial challenge lies in accurately translating these fluctuations into long-term energy planning, enabling strategic assessment and mitigation of their impacts.

Ireland’s goal of achieving a climate-neutral economy by 2050 intensifies these challenges. The transition increases exposure to climate-related risks while legacy risks from fossil fuel dependency persist. Ireland’s limited interconnection capacity, high energy import reliance, and climate vulnerabilities further complicate the transition. A climate-aware modelling framework is therefore essential to support informed decision-making.

The ClimEnergise project addresses this by developing an integrated Climate-Energy system modelling framework to assess climate risks to energy security and identify mitigation strategies. The approach combines high-resolution climate data with energy system models to analyse impacts across sectors. Single and compound events are examined, and the TIMES-Ireland Model is used to assess cost-effective solutions, which are then validated for operational feasibility through a detailed power system model.

As shown in the figure below, ClimEnergise establishes a strong link between meteorology and energy systems. It integrates insights from weather variability, short- and long-term climate patterns, and extreme events with energy generation, supply, demand, and market dynamics in Ireland.

Objectives

The overall objective of the ClimEnergise project is to develop a climate-informed energy system planning framework to support Ireland’s energy transition, addressing challenges of decarbonisation, resilience, energy security, and informed decision-making under climate variability.

The specific objectives are to:

1) Develop methodologies to link weather fluctuations, long-term climate patterns, and extreme events with Ireland’s energy system modelling and planning needs.

2) Create innovative tools to translate climate information into useful insights, enabling policymakers and stakeholders to address resilience and flexibility in energy planning.

3) Evaluate the implications of climate events on Ireland’s energy system.

4) Strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration between meteorological and energy research communities, addressing cross-sectoral challenges.

5) Assess the socio-economic implications of climate change on Ireland’s energy systems by examining how changes in energy availability, costs, and demand affect communities and industries.