News

Geoscience Ireland (GI)  was delighted to attend the Launch on 26^th June at the Pavilion, Stormont Estate, of GeoEnergy NI, which will examine both shallow and deep geothermal at the Stormont Estate, Belfast and College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise, Greenmount Campus, Antrim, respectively. Two GI member companies are involved in the project; Geo Drilling Solutions and Priority Drilling. 

Mike Brennan, Permanent Secretary of the Department for the Economy (DfE) , said: “GeoEnergy NI is a milestone project of the Energy Strategy Action Plan, which focuses on delivering a reduction in energy-related emissions as part of the pathway to deliver net zero carbon and affordable energy by 2050. This project will increase our understanding of the potential role that geothermal energy can play in Northern Ireland’s green economy and future energy mix.”

Representing a £3 million investment, GeoEnergy NI is being delivered by DfE with scientific support from the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) and a specialist contractor team led by Tetra Tech Europe.

Marie Cowan, Director of GSNI, outlined the potential for geothermal energy in Northern Ireland: “Geothermal is regarded as one of the most environmentally friendly ways of producing local, sustainable, and low-carbon energy and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, whatever the weather. Geothermal energy is already used widely and successfully in many countries around the world including the Netherlands, Germany and France, and there are several significant geothermal projects currently being delivered elsewhere in the UK.

Northern Ireland is very fortunate to have favourable geology with significant untapped potential for geothermal energy right beneath our feet. Building on our extensive data, research, and mapping to date, GeoEnergy NI will provide us with invaluable data to help us realise this potential and deepen our understanding of the subsurface even further.

“An additional benefit of the GeoEnergy NI project is its public and stakeholder outreach campaign, involving a new website, VR representation, and educational resources. A mobile visitor centre is also planned later this year to further enhance the public’s awareness and understanding of geothermal and the economic potential Northern Ireland’s geothermal sector holds.”

Conor Lydon, Northern Ireland Director of Tetra Tech Europe said: “Working with DfE and GSNI, we are delighted to lead the consortium for the GeoEnergy NI project to help showcase the power and potential of Northern Ireland’s geothermal sector. Geothermal technology has been safely and successfully harnessed throughout the world for decades and we’re proud to bring our expertise in this sector to the project. The survey and exploratory work will use world-leading technologies and processes, safe and well-established techniques, and will be in full compliance with all local planning and environmental regulations. We have put together a strong team of experts from across the globe, all experienced in delivering geothermal projects and who have seen first-hand the tremendous benefits geothermal energy can offer.”

Other speakers at the Launch were Katriana Godfrey ( Perm Sec DERA) and Richard Rogers (DfE).

Photo shows panellists Prof Mark Palmer (QUB), Ryan White (DfE), Dr Marie Cowan (GSNI) and Con0r Lydon (TetraTech), with Moderator Sam McCloskey (Simply Blue).To find out more about geothermal energy and the  GeoEnergy NI project visit www.GeoEnergyNI.org

Geoscience Ireland (GI) is pleased to  welcome two new members to its Advisory Board.

Jim Fox  is a Senior Development Advisor with Enterprise Ireland’s High Tech Construction and Housing  Division. He was previously  with the Local Enterprise Office in Cavan, having worked as Leasing Executive with ICC Bank and BOSI and with IDA as a Project Executive. A Business graduate from TCD,  he holds post graduate diplomas from IMI, IOB and ACCA.  Jim replaces Dermot Reidy of Enterprise Ireland who retired earlier this month.

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Trevor O’ Regan is a director of Economic Development Consultants Ireland, having previously worked with PM Group  as an Associate Director. Currently based in Hanoi, Trevor has worked as Team Leader and advisor on technical assistance projects being implemented by the EU, USAID, the World Bank Group, Asian Development Bank, Inter-American Development Bank and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). A  graduate of UCC, he holds a Masters of Business Studies from UL.

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Commenting on the appointments, GI Director Dermot Duff said;

“Jim Fox’s presence on our Advisory Board confirms Enterprise Ireland as  a key enabler for the GI network. I thank Dermot Reidy of EI who retired recently for his significant support and guidance from the earliest days of GI.

Trevor O Reagan’s  experience with Multilateral Development Bank projects in many jurisdictions will provide important insights for GI members active in that sector and to those seeking new market opportunities .”

 

Engineers Ireland has become the first organisation outside the UK to be licensed by the Society of the Environment to award this  important professional title. Engineers Ireland will use the Chartered Environmentalist title to drive environmental practices in engineering and recognise Chartered Engineers who are leading the way to a more sustainable world.

Sean Finlay of Geoscience Ireland  commented;

“Geoscience Ireland welcomes this initiative, recognising that environmental engineering and protection are  at the center  of  sustainable development. Engineers, Environmental Scientists and Geoscientists have important roles to play in furthering public understanding of science and technology and need to collaborate more closely in this regard. ” 

 

 

Founded in 1998 to promote the European Geothermal industry , EGEC , based in Brussles, supports research, shapes policy, provides market intelligence and enables collaboration between members. Over 120 members from 28 countries include developers, suppliers, national associations, geological surveys, public authorities and research agencies.

Geoscience Ireland (GI) has partnered  with EGEC in the delivery of a recently completed EU project Geo Energy Europe. GI’s main task , led by Joe Mongan, was assisting the delivery of Market Study Visits to Chile, Canada, Kenya and Costa Rica, along with  providing market intelligence and business metrics. Other participants were Pole Avenia, CAPES, Celle Drilling, Jesder, Geodeep, Cosvig and Geoplat. Geological Survey Ireland  was the project coordinator.

Geoscience Ireland (GI) is now pleased to join EGEC as a member. Geothermal energy remains largely underdeveloped  but governments and policy makers are increasingly recognising and encouraging its potential. EGEC continues to play a pivotal  role in promoting and developing this source of renewable energy and GI is delighted to support these objectives.

Geoscience  Ireland (GI) attended a two day Seminar at UN City in Copenhagen on 7 and 8 March. The event was coordinated by Enterprise Ireland. Netherlands Enterprise Agency and UK Government and involved over 100 companies (20 from Ireland) in learning how nine main UN agencies procure goods and services across a wide range of sectors. Minister Dara Callery TD was the keynote speaker along with the UK and Netherlands Ambassadors to Denmark, Emma Hopkins OBE and Nienke Trooster. Ireland’ s Ambassador Elizabeth McCullough kindly hosted a reception for delegates on the evening of 6th March.

The UN spent c $30Bn in 2021 on procurement, providing transport and logistics for Peace Keeping, Food and Children’s Aid and responding to climate and natural disaster emergencies. Examples include UNOPS, which  spends $2Bn per annum, of which $62M in 2021 was  for UK companies, $27M for the Netherlands and $11M for Ireland. Engineering and Construction services are procured by several other agencies apart from UNOPS ($323M)   e.g. UNHCR, UNDP (£300M)  and UNIDO. Projects are usually assessed on quality  (60-80%)  and cost. Tendering criteria were explained by a range of UN officials who also hosted over 400  one to one meetings.

GI Director Sean Finlay contributed to a Panel discussion on Getting Started with the UN, referencing  a successful project by GI member Nicholas O Dwyer Consulting Engineers for UNOPS in East Timor. Commenting on the event, he said

” UN Procurement represents really significant opportunities for GI members in water, infrastructure and energy projects, and indeed for Irish companies in IT, education, agribusiness as well. The UN Copenhagen Seminar , superbly co-managed  by Paul Maguire and the  Nordics team from Enterprise Ireland  provided an excellent guide for companies on how to win UN business.”