The Bernal Institute is hoping to solve renewable energy’s biggest problem: unnecessary wastage.

Dr Michéal Scanlon, a lecturer at the University of Limerick (UL), is taking inspiration from nature in order to develop a solution for renewable energy wastage.

In a country such as Ireland, solar energy generation can often be intermittent and, in some cases, our supply might actually outstrip demand, leading to considerable energy wastage.

To overcome this, Scanlon has established a new electrochemistry research group at the Bernal Institute, UL’s advanced research lab, which last August announced that it was to be led by two new directors, Prof Michael Zaworotko and Prof Gavin Walker.

Words by Colm Gorey