An energy consumption project based at the Nimbus Research Centre in Cork has been awarded €2m as part of the EU’s Horizon 2020 funding programme for advanced research on the continent.
The Nimbus Research Centre, based in Cork Institute of Technology (CIT), is the country’s largest dedicated centre focused on technology within the internet of things (IoT) and will now be funding a project that could be instrumental in transforming the future of energy consumption in Europe.
Led by Dr Martin Klepal, the E2District project is a three-year research endeavour to develop cloud software, using a citizen engagement strategy to manage and support smart energy usage for sustainable district heating and cooling systems.
With the new funding, the research team will create a replicable model that can be adapted for industrial or domestic sites – whether local, national, or international – with a view to delivering increased energy efficiencies and measurable cost savings.
Cork as a centre of excellence
The software will aim to influence the development of District energy systems, which pipe steam and hot or cold water around a district from a central location and are being used in a variety of cities worldwide because of their higher energy efficiency.
Nimbus’ experimental testbed on the campus of CIT, along with city district experimental sites in Belgium and Czech Republic, will serve as a testbed for E2District’s software-defined heating and cooling infrastructure.
Speaking of the project, Dr Klepal said: “We are delighted to be coordinating such an exciting project, which has real potential to positively influence future European energy consumption patterns. Our involvement in E2District not only further strengthens CIT’s international position in this critical domain, it also reinforces Cork’s global reputation as a centre of excellence for technological innovation.”
Smart home image via Shutterstock
