Staff & Research Areas
Working Groups
Energy Policy Group
Chair: Liam Connellan
Stephen Douglas is the researcher responsible for the IIEA working group on EU Energy Policy. The group is chaired by Liam Connellan, a chairman of the Energy Institute in Ireland and a past President of Engineers Ireland.
About the Energy Group
The group monitors developments in EU Energy Policy and provides analysis of the implications for Ireland. Regular meetings are organised with leading international and European figures providing stakeholders from Ireland with an opportunity to gain insight and to influence the direction of future policy in this area. The group also facilitates initiatives aimed at the promotion of regional cooperation on energy issues. In 2008, we hosted the Asia Europe Environment Forum, bringing together over 60 energy experts from Asia and Europe, in cooperation with the Asia Europe Forum. The group is composed of leading figures in the Irish Energy community from Government, Industry, Research and Academia. The group produces regular independent authenticated information on this topic in the form of monthly newsletters and periodic publications.
The twin challenges of Climate Change and Energy Security have seen Energy issues rise to the top of the EU Policy agenda in recent years. The development of a single European market for electricity and gas supported by a common energy policy is crucial to meeting these challenges. A common energy policy is important for regulating the EU’s relations with third party suppliers. The work of the IIEA energy group reflects policy priorities at the EU level and seeks to chart the direction of any future policy in this area. The group’s research agenda looks at the following themes: Energy Policy and EU Treaties; Energy Security; Climate Change; Internal Market and Liberalisation; Renewable Energy; Energy Efficiency
Recent Speakers include….
Nobuo Tanaka, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency(IEA)
Andris Piebalgs, EU Commissioner for Energy
Kamdeh Yumkella, Director United Nations Industrial Development Organisation(UNIDO)
Claude Mandil, Former Executive Director of the IEA and Gaz de France
Amory Lovins, Chairman and Co-Founder of the Rocky Mountain Institute
Jeremy Rifkin, Chairman and Founder of the Foundation on Economic Trends
Dr Eddie O’Connor, CEO Mainstream Renewable Power and Founder Airtricity
Padraig McManus, Managing Director ESB.
Members of the group include amongst others…….
Airtricity
Bord Gais Eireann
Bord na Mona
Commission for Energy Regulation
Eirgrid plc
ESB
NTR plc
Shell
Viridian Energy Ltd