Research and Development

Under Section 9 of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 the CER is obliged to encourage research and development into:

methods of generating electricity using renewable, sustainable and alternative forms of energy and combined heat and power and
methods of increasing efficiency in the use and production of electricity.

The CER carries out its duties in this area through participation in various research and working groups. The remit of these groups ranges from advising on policy direction at Government level to looking at specific renewable issues. In addition the CER funds certain renewable energy projects Click on the links below to read more about current research initiatives in the area of renewable and sustainable energy.

Irish Energy Research Council: In June 2006, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources launched the Irish Energy Research Council.
The All Island Grid Study: In July 2005 the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland Governments jointly issued a preliminary consultation paper on an all-island '2020 Vision' for renewable energy.
Electricity Research Centre (ERC): The ERC is a combined research centre involving the University College Dublin and other participants with interests in the Irish Electricity Industry.
Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI): The CER has funded energy specific projects carried out by the ESRI since 2003. The ESRI have had an Energy Policy Research Centre in place since 1990.