# €2.6M investment for breakthrough technologies in renewable gas and energy system integration

**Source**: https://www.ucd.ie/eacollege/newsandevents/26minvestmentforbreakthroughtechnologiesinrenewablegasandenergysystemintegration/
**Parent**: https://www.ucd.ie/eacollege/

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# €2.6M investment for breakthrough technologies in renewable gas and energy system integration

*Monday, 23 February, 2026*

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Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, has announced €2.6 million in phased funding for five research teams focused on renewable gas production, energy system integration and intelligent gas network technologies.

The co-funded Research Ireland – Gas Networks Ireland Innovation Challenge brings together leading academic researchers with industry expertise to develop practical, scalable solutions for Ireland’s future energy needs, while contributing to Ireland’s climate and energy security objectives.

The successful teams are working to develop solutions which will improve the efficiency, efficacy and commercial viability of biomethane and biohydrogen production, accelerate the integration of renewable gases into the Irish energy system and develop AI-based solutions for intelligent gas network performance diagnostics.

The funded teams are:

- DIGIGAS - A GeoAI-Powered Digital Twin of Ireland’s Renewable Gas Infrastructure for Dynamic Decarbonisation Planning

Lead: Dr Abdalkarim Gharbia, Atlantic Technological University; Co-Lead: Dr Nasim Eslamirad, [UCD School of Architecture Planning and Environmental Policy](https://www.ucd.ie/apep/ "Go to 'UCD School of Architecture Planning and Environmental Policy' page")

- BIOGRID: Biogas Methanation to Grid-quality Biomethane using Intensified Reactors

Lead: Professor Vivek Ranade, University of Limerick; Co-Lead, Dr Recep Dereli, [UCD School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering](https://www.ucd.ie/chembioeng/ "Go to 'UCD School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering' page")

- ALgas: Innovative macroalgal biorefining and social licensing for new biomethane production for Ireland

Lead: Dr Gavin Collins, University of Galway; Co-Lead: Dr Edel Doherty, University of Galway

- O.P.P.O.R.T.U.N.I.T.Y. - Optimised Processes for Production Of Renewable Technologies Using Nanomaterials In Targeted Yield

Lead: Dr Conor Boland, Dublin City University; Co-Lead: Dr James Carton, Dublin City University

- ReGasIn - Stakeholder co-created Scenario modelling of renewable gases for future integrated energy systems in Ireland

Lead: Dr Subhash Kumar, Tyndall National Institute; Co-Lead: Dr Siobhan O'Sullivan, University College Cork

Announcing the awards, Minister James Lawless said, “I am delighted to announce the first cohort of teams to be co‑funded under the Research Ireland – Gas Networks Ireland Innovation Challenge. This €2.6 million investment marks an important step in Ireland’s journey toward a climate‑neutral future. By bringing academics and industry together, this programme empowers world‑class researchers to deliver practical, high‑impact solutions in renewable gas and intelligent energy systems. It shows how targeted research investment can accelerate sustainability, bolster our energy security, and position Ireland as a global leader in research‑driven innovation.”

A key aspect of the programme is the close collaboration between researchers and Gas Networks Ireland, ensuring innovations are grounded in real-world system needs. Each team will work with a dedicated Gas Networks Ireland liaison, supporting the development, testing and validation of solutions with the potential for deployment at scale.

Dr Diarmuid O’Brien, CEO, Research Ireland, said, “I wish every congratulations to the five teams being funded as part of Research Ireland’s partnership with Gas Networks Ireland. The research these teams are undertaking will support Ireland on the path to decarbonisation. Cross-sector collaboration is vital for Ireland to meet its national commitments to be climate-neutral by 2050. The Challenge model of embedding end users into the team and engaging with key stakeholders from the project outset will help ensure that real and tangible impacts are delivered. I look forward to seeing the teams progress their solutions over the coming months.”

Bobby Gleeson, Chief Operations Officer at Gas Networks Ireland, said, “These projects represent innovation in action – turning cutting-edge research into solutions that can strengthen Ireland’s energy system, improve resilience and support our journey to net zero. Supporting key research through our Gas Innovation Fund and working directly with these teams allows us to accelerate the development of technologies that will help decarbonise Ireland’s gas network while enabling the integration of renewable gases at scale.”

For more information, visit the [Research Ireland website](https://www.researchireland.ie/news/ "Go to 'Research Ireland website' page").

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