Applications are invited for a temporary post of a Senior Energy Policy Researcher within UCD School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Ireland is a world leader in incorporating wind energy within its electricity system. The 38% wind energy contribution to All-Island electricity demand in 2020 is higher than in any other whole power system worldwide. Ireland's electricity transmission and distribution system operators therefore have considerable experience in planning and operating an electricity system with very high wind energy penetrations. When proposed in 2019, the 70% Climate Action Plan Renewable Electricity target, met primarily from variable renewable energy resources, was seen as being a "stretch target" representing the limits of what could safely be integrated, given the current and assumed future state of knowledge and technologies. No other power system worldwide currently has such a high penetration of variable renewable electricity and few countries are anticipating pursuing such an aggressive target within a single electricity system. Decarbonising the Irish electricity system through incorporating high levels of renewable energy, facilitates the achievement of Ireland's climate change objectives, not only in the electricity sector, but also in the heat and transport sectors through electrification. Decarbonising the latter sectors would be more difficult and expensive if a low carbon electricity supply were unavailable. In the 2021 update of the Climate Action Plan, a higher 80% renewable electricity target was proposed. Exceeding a 70% renewable electricity contribution to the Irish electricity system will be extremely challenging and will require coordinated changes, across electricity generation, transmission, distribution, supply and demand, to be successfully implemented. It will also require coordination of energy resources and systems that are coupled with the electricity system. The majority of prior research on integrating large amounts of renewable energy in the Irish electricity system has focused upon the generating system and transmission system. This research will have to extend to energy resources and systems outside of the electricity system but whose coupling with the electricity system may bring both benefits and challenges. As mentioned above a target of 70% renewable electricity or more is extremely challenging and unprecedented internationally, requiring systemic changes to not only our electricity system but our whole energy system. It will require a sustained R,D&D programme, coordinated across multiple actors and sectors, in order that supporting technological innovations are identified, researched, scoped and delivered in good time. The successful candidate will be based in SEAI and will develop collaborative linkages with the UCD Energy Institute and the broader academic and energy policy system. Salary Range: €50,000 - €55,125 per annum Appointment on the above range will be dependent upon qualifications and experience. Closing date: 17:00hrs (local Irish time) on the 30th of September 2021.

Prior to application, further information (including application procedure) should be obtained from the Work at UCD website: https://www.ucd.ie/workatucd/jobs/.

Applications must be submitted by the closing date and time specified. Any applications which are still in progress at the closing time of 17:00hrs (Local Irish Time) on the specified closing date will be cancelled automatically by the system. UCD are unable to accept late applications. UCD do not require assistance from Recruitment Agencies. Any CV's submitted by Recruitment Agencies will be returned.