MSc in Sustainable Energy Engineering postgraduate students presented their research thesis work as part of the annual CIBSE student award at WIT
The winner and runners up for the MSc in Sustainable Energy Engineering Annual CIBSE Student Awards sponsored by Suir Engineering have been decided following a presentation of their research thesis work by students.
The student research work was judged by Paul Martin, CIBSE RoI Chairman and Programme Manager – Technical Standards Development at SEAI; David Phelan, Business Development Manager of Suir Engineering and Paul Cremmins Technical Director of Suir Engineering.
The MSc in Sustainable Energy Engineering is delivered in a new flexible block delivery mode which is designed to facilitate Continuing Professional Development while also working. It is accredited by Engineers Ireland for Chartered Status.
The CIBSE Award went to student Ekene Micheal Gbanite for his research project entitled “Feasibility of on-farm anaerobic co-digestion of food waste and pig manure for electricity generation and district heating in a rural community in the south east”.
The runners up were Sean O’Carroll for his project entitled “To assess the energy Consumption and Indoor Environmental Quality of Primary School Buildings Built Pre 1990 in Ireland” and Thomas Nolan for his project entitled “An Investigation into the Role of the Building Structure on Energy Use & CO2 Emissions over the Life Cycle of a Medium-Rise Residential Building”.
David Phelan, Business Development Manager Suir Engineering who sponsored the award said that Suir Engineering is very pleased to sponsor the award this year. "As a large employer of people in the engineering sector (now over 700) we recognise and support everything that WIT represents in the South East. We have regular interaction with various departments within WIT and in order for us to continue to support our growing clients in the Pharmaceutical, Food, Energy and Data Centre markets we must continue this good working relationship into the future so that we both can bring the most skilled and well equipped people to the workplace.”
Paul Martin CIBSE RoI Chairman added that CIBSE Ireland with Suir Engineering are delighted to sponsor of the MSc in Sustainable Energy Engineering awards night. "CIBSE promotes the career of Building Services Engineers and maintains an active and interesting programme of events throughout the year. The WIT awards are one the events and we hope to raise interest in Building Services Engineering through the various courses WIT proved. The MSc in Sustainable Energy Engineering is very well-recognised course by employers and CIBSE Ireland hope that this event can promote this course further. The awards night is the start of the journey for most of the students in WIT, CIBSE would like to be a part of that journey as the students get ready to enter the working environment.”
Mervin Doyle Programme Leader MSc in Sustainable Energy Engineering, said: “The programme is very grateful to CIBSE and Suir Engineering for supporting these awards. It is fantastic that the students get acknowledgement for all their hard work. The graduates from this programme are quite sought after at present and it is support such as this that is of mutual benefit to the students and industry.”
All of the research projects were highly commended by the judges. The other research projects presented were under the following titles:
- An analysis of the energy performance and potential of a LED lighting upgrade for a free range poultry farm in Ireland by Ryan McKenna
- The optimum solar PV/Wind hybrid system including battery storage ofr a residential estate in Limerick, Ireland by Colm O’Mahony
- Daylight design and simulation comparison between Revit, Sephera, IES VE and 3Ds Max by Omar Alhabsi
The MSc in Sustainable Energy Engineering
The MSc in Sustainable Energy Engineering is a taught postgraduate programme in the Department of the Built Environment. The programme has been running since 2009. Graduates of this MSc programme have found employment in fields such as: Dynamic Thermal Modelling, Mechanical & Electrical Services Consultancy, Local Authority Energy Agencies, Academic Research, Energy Supply Companies, Energy Consultancy, BIM, LEED and BREEAM Accredited Professionals and Energy Management Consultancy.