RESEARCH EXCELLENCE

World-Class Facilities, Collaborative Approach

FIESO represents a €4.2 million investment in cutting-edge research infrastructure at the Lir Laboratory, UCC, part of the MaREI research centre and the National Ocean Test Facility. Our approach combines state-of-the-art equipment with rigorous methodologies and broad collaboration to deliver research with real-world impact.

State-of-the-Art Infrastructure Floating Offshore Wind Testbed

  • Real floating offshore wind turbine deployed in Cork Harbour
  • Integration with onshore energy systems through advanced simulation
  • Unique capability to study offshore-to-shore energy conversion and transmission

Power Hardware in the Loop (PHIL) System

  • 300 kVA inverter amplifier coupled with Real-Time Digital Simulator (OPAL-RT)
  • Enables real equipment to interact with simulated future power systems
  • Tests control strategies under conditions that don't yet exist

Hydrogen Laboratory

  • Operational electrolyser, storage tank, and fuel cell
  • Battery emulator for hybrid system testing
  • Instrumentation to capture thermal dynamics, efficiency variations, and transient performance

Digital Observatory Infrastructure

  • High-performance computing for complex system modeling
  • Video wall for data visualisation and stakeholder engagement
  • Advanced software including RT-LAB and MATLAB/Simulink

Rigorous Methodology

FIESO employs the VEEEG framework (Validation, Extension, Extrapolation, Enhancement, Generalisation) to ensure research findings are robust and broadly applicable:

  • Validation: Confirming laboratory results match theoretical predictions
  • Extension: Applying findings to slightly different conditions
  • Extrapolation: Scaling results to real-world system sizes
  • Enhancement: Identifying improvements to equipment and methods
  • Generalisation: Ensuring conclusions apply beyond specific test cases

Multi-Scale Modeling Approach

We combine three complementary methods:

  • Desktop Modeling: Rapid evaluation of many scenarios and configurations
  • Co-Simulation: Testing control strategies with real equipment in simulated grids
  • Large-Scale Demonstration Data: Validation with real-world deployment results

This layered approach reveals practical challenges that pure simulation would miss, giving stakeholders confidence in our findings.

Collaborative Research Platform

FIESO is designed to serve the entire Irish energy research community:

  • Open Data Access: Curated datasets available to researchers nationwide
  • Shared Infrastructure: Laboratory facilities accessible for collaborative projects
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Regular interaction with TSOs, DSOs, industry, and policymakers
  • International Connections: Links to European energy research networks and hydrogen valleys

Academic and Industrial Impact

Our research directly supports:

  • Development of granular energy system models for Ireland
  • Evidence base for national and regional renewable electricity strategies
  • Technical standards for emerging technologies like hydrogen
  • Business case development for new energy services and markets
  • Ireland's capacity to secure EU and international research funding

Training the Next Generation

Through FIESO, we're developing expertise in critical areas including hydrogen systems, energy storage, power electronics, control systems, and energy system modeling—building Ireland's human capital for the energy transition ahead.