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DIGIGAS Project awarded Research Ireland funding to develop renewable gas and energy system breakthroughs
Dr Abdalkarim Gharbia is leading a new research project funded by Research Ireland and Gas Networks Ireland that aims to support Ireland’s transition to a low carbon energy system.
The DIGIGAS project, led by Dr Abdalkarim Gharbia and co-led by Dr Nasim Eslamirad of University College Dublin, is funded under the Research Ireland Gas Networks Ireland Innovation Challenge.
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, announced €2.6 million in phased funding for five research teams under the Challenge.
Minister James Lawless said:
“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”.
DIGIGAS will create a digital model of Ireland’s renewable gas infrastructure. This digital model will allow researchers and industry to better understand how renewable gases, such as biomethane and hydrogen, can be safely and efficiently integrated into the national gas network.
Dr Abdalkarim Gharbia said:
DIGIGAS aims to develop a GeoAI-powered digital twin of Ireland’s renewable gas infrastructure to support dynamic decarbonisation planning. The project integrates Earth Observation data, geospatial analytics, and digital twin technologies to enhance renewable gas integration, improve methane monitoring, and strengthen infrastructure resilience.
The Research Ireland – Gas Networks Ireland Innovation Challenge supports innovations designed to accelerate the integration of renewable gases into Ireland’s energy system and strengthen the performance of the national gas network.
The funding is delivered in three phases: a six-month Concept phase (up to €50,000), a 12-month Seed phase (up to €150,000), and a Prize phase (up to 24 months, with teams competing for a total award of €1 million).
Dr Gharbia added:
“Working closely with industry partners, including Gas Networks Ireland, the project seeks to deliver practical, data-driven tools that support Ireland’s transition to a low-carbon energy system.”
Featured Image: Dr Abdalkarim Gharbia, lead researcher on the DIGIGAS project is working on a digital model of Ireland’s renewable gas infrastructure
Photo caption 1: (L-R) Stuart Brennan, Project Manager, Gas Networks Ireland (GNI); Liam Nolan, Head of Technical Development and Technical Training, GNI; John Memery, Head of Network Services, GNI;, Bobby Gleeson, Chief Operations Officer, GNI; Dr Ruth Freeman, Director of Research for Society, Research Ireland; James Burchill, Chief Engineer, GNI; Paul Cleary, Senior Networks Coordinator, GNI. (Photography: Fintan Clarke, Coalesce).
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