Research Profile

David Wall

Biography

Dr David Wall is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Engineering and Architecture in University College Cork (UCC). David was a previous Teagasc Walsh Fellow and has a PhD in Energy Engineering. Prior to this, he obtained a Masters in Biosystems Engineering from Michigan State University, USA.  

David is a Funded Investigator in the SFI-funded MaREI Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine, in The Circular Economy, Energy and Environmental Systems (CEEES) group. He has published over 50 peer reviewed journal papers in the area of bioenergy and renewable gas (h-index of 27).
 

David also represents Ireland for the International Energy Agency (IEA) Bioenergy: Task 37 Biogas and has previously authored three IEA Bioenergy reports.

Research Interests

  • Innovative renewable gas technologies (biogas and biomethane production)
  • Demand driven energy systems to facilitate high shares of intermittent renewable electricity
  • Valorisation of waste streams through novel circular economy approaches
  • Development of cascading bioenergy systems for enhanced sustainability/decarbonisation
  • Electrofuels (green hydrogen) production in a circular economy
  • Decarbonisation of transport through the production of advanced fuels
  • Development of biorefineries in agriculture (protein, platform chemicals and energy generation from crops and residues)
  • Provision of active transport modes to enhance commuter sustainability
  • Transport planning and the design of road infrastructure to improve modal accessibility

Research Grants

 ProjectFunding
Body
Start DateEnd DateAward
Future Innovator Prize David WallScience Foundation of Ireland01-JAN-2031-MAR-21€244,053.00
Expanding the alternative use and circularity potential of crops (EXPECT) - WS3.Teagasc01-OCT-2130-SEP-25€98,750.00
Decarbonisation of Whiskey Distilleries in a Circular Economy: Investigating Novel Anaerobic Digestion Systems for Valorisation of Waste Streams.Irish Research Council01-SEP-2130-AUG-24€82,500.00

Publications

Book Chapters

 YearPublication
(2022)'Feedstock pretreatment for enhanced anaerobic digestion of lignocellulosic residues for bioenergy production'
Kang X.;Xu C.;Lin R.;Song B.;Wall D.;Murphy J.D. (2022) 'Feedstock pretreatment for enhanced anaerobic digestion of lignocellulosic residues for bioenergy production' In: Biomass, Biofuels, Biochemicals. Netherlands: Elsevier. [DOI] [Details]
(2019)'Chapter 5 - Influential Aspects in Waste Management Practices'
Rajendran, Karthik,Lin, Richen,Wall, David M.,Murphy, Jerry D.,Taherzadeh, Mohammad J.,Bolton, Kim,Wong, Jonathan,Pandey, Ashok (2019) 'Chapter 5 - Influential Aspects in Waste Management Practices' In: Sustainable Resource Recovery and Zero Waste Approaches. ElsevierElsevier.   [DOI] [Details]

Peer Reviewed Journals

 YearPublication
(2022)'Batteries, fuel cells, or engines? A probabilistic economic and environmental assessment of electricity and electrofuels for heavy goods vehicles'
Gray N.;O'Shea R.;Wall D.;Smyth B.;Lens P.N.L.;Murphy J.D. (2022) 'Batteries, fuel cells, or engines? A probabilistic economic and environmental assessment of electricity and electrofuels for heavy goods vehicles'. Advances In Applied Energy, 8 [DOI] [Details]
(2022)'Evaluation of a biomethane, food and biofertiliser polygeneration system in a circular economy system'
Bose, A;O'Shea, R;Lin, R;Long, A;Rajendran, K;Wall, D;De, S;Murphy, JD (2022) 'Evaluation of a biomethane, food and biofertiliser polygeneration system in a circular economy system'. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 170 [DOI] [Details]
(2022)'Operation of a circular economy, energy, environmental system at a wastewater treatment plant'
Rusmanis D.;Yang Y.;Lin R.;Wall D.M.;Murphy J.D. (2022) 'Operation of a circular economy, energy, environmental system at a wastewater treatment plant'. Advances In Applied Energy, 8 [DOI] [Details]
(2022)'The marginal abatement cost of co-producing biomethane, food and biofertiliser in a circular economy system'
Bose, A;O'Shea, R;Lin, RC;Long, A;Rajendran, K;Wall, D;De, S;Murphy, JD (2022) 'The marginal abatement cost of co-producing biomethane, food and biofertiliser in a circular economy system'. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 169 [DOI] [Details]
(2022)'A comparison of digestate management options at a large anaerobic digestion plant'
O'Shea R;Lin R;Wall DM;Browne JD;Murphy JD; (2022) 'A comparison of digestate management options at a large anaerobic digestion plant'. Journal of Environmental Management, 317 [DOI] [Details]
(2022)'Assessing decarbonisation pathways in the food and beverage sector: A multi-criteria decision analysis approach'
O'Shea, R;Lin, RC;Wall, DM;Murphy, JD (2022) 'Assessing decarbonisation pathways in the food and beverage sector: A multi-criteria decision analysis approach'. The Journal of Cleaner Production, 371 [DOI] [Details]
(2022)'The effect of seasonal biomass availability and energy demand on the operation of an on-farm biomethane plant'
Ó Céileachair D.;O'Shea R.;Murphy J.D.;Wall D.M. (2022) 'The effect of seasonal biomass availability and energy demand on the operation of an on-farm biomethane plant'. The Journal of Cleaner Production, 368 [DOI] [Details]
(2022)'Improvement in biohydrogen and volatile fatty acid production from seaweed through addition of conductive carbon materials depends on the properties of the conductive materials'
Deng, Chen; Lin, Richen; Kang, Xihui; Wu, Benteng; Wall, David M.; Murphy, Jerry D. (2022) 'Improvement in biohydrogen and volatile fatty acid production from seaweed through addition of conductive carbon materials depends on the properties of the conductive materials'. Energy, 239 :1-16 [DOI] [Full Text] [Details]
(2022)'Duckweed bioreactors: Challenges and opportunities for large-scale indoor cultivation of Lemnaceae'
Coughlan N.E.;Walsh É.;Bolger P.;Burnell G.;O'Leary N.;O'Mahoney M.;Paolacci S.;Wall D.;Jansen M.A.K. (2022) 'Duckweed bioreactors: Challenges and opportunities for large-scale indoor cultivation of Lemnaceae'. The Journal of Cleaner Production, 336 [DOI] [Details]
(2022)'Co-production of hydrochar, levulinic acid and value-added chemicals by microwave-assisted hydrothermal carbonization of seaweed'
Deng C.;Lin R.;Kang X.;Wu B.;Ning X.;Wall D.;Murphy J.D. (2022) 'Co-production of hydrochar, levulinic acid and value-added chemicals by microwave-assisted hydrothermal carbonization of seaweed'. Chemical Engineering Journal, 441 [DOI] [Details]
(2021)'Distillery decarbonisation and anaerobic digestion: balancing benefits and drawbacks using a compromise programming approach'
O'Shea, R;Lin, RC;Wall, DM;Browne, JD;Murphy, JD (2021) 'Distillery decarbonisation and anaerobic digestion: balancing benefits and drawbacks using a compromise programming approach'. Biofuel Research Journal-Brj, 8 :1417-1432 [DOI] [Details]
(2021)'Emerging bioelectrochemical technologies for biogas production and upgrading in cascading circular bioenergy systems'
Ning, X;Lin, RC;O'Shea, R;Wall, D;Deng, C;Wu, BT;Murphy, JD (2021) 'Emerging bioelectrochemical technologies for biogas production and upgrading in cascading circular bioenergy systems'. Iscience, 24 [DOI] [Details]
(2021)'What physicochemical properties of biochar facilitate interspecies electron transfer in anaerobic digestion: A case study of digestion of whiskey by-products'
Deng, Chen; Lin, Richen; Kang, Xihui; Wu, Benteng; Wall, David M.; Murphy, Jerry D. (2021) 'What physicochemical properties of biochar facilitate interspecies electron transfer in anaerobic digestion: A case study of digestion of whiskey by-products'. Fuel, 306 :1-15 [DOI] [Full Text] [Details]
(2021)'Alternative energy management strategies for large industry in non-gas-grid regions using on-farm biomethane'
Ceileachair, DO;O'Shea, R;Murphy, JD;Wall, DM (2021) 'Alternative energy management strategies for large industry in non-gas-grid regions using on-farm biomethane'. Applied Energy, 303 [DOI] [Details]
(2020)'Using biogas to reduce natural gas consumption and greenhouse gas emissions at a large distillery'
O'Shea R.;Lin R.;Wall D.M.;Browne J.D.;Murphy J.D. (2020) 'Using biogas to reduce natural gas consumption and greenhouse gas emissions at a large distillery'. Applied Energy, 279 [DOI] [Details]
(2020)'Can thermal energy recovery from digestate make renewable gas from household waste more cost effective? A case study for the Republic of Ireland'
Singlitico A.;Dussan K.;O'Shea R.;Wall D.;Goggins J.;Murphy J.D.;Monaghan R.F.D. (2020) 'Can thermal energy recovery from digestate make renewable gas from household waste more cost effective? A case study for the Republic of Ireland'. The Journal of Cleaner Production, 261 [DOI] [Details]
(2019)'Trace element supplementation is associated with increases in fermenting bacteria in biogas mono-digestion of grass silage'
FitzGerald, JA;Wall, DM;Jackson, SA;Murphy, JD;Dobson, ADW (2019) 'Trace element supplementation is associated with increases in fermenting bacteria in biogas mono-digestion of grass silage'. Renewable Energy, 138 :980-986 [DOI] [Details]
(2019)'Biological hydrogen methanation systems–an overview of design and efficiency'
Rusmanis D.;O’Shea R.;Wall D.;Murphy J. (2019) 'Biological hydrogen methanation systems–an overview of design and efficiency'. Bioengineered, 10 (1):604-634 [DOI] [Details]
(2017)'Cascading biomethane energy systems for sustainable green gas production in a circular economy'
Wall, DM;McDonagh, S;Murphy, JD (2017) 'Cascading biomethane energy systems for sustainable green gas production in a circular economy'. Bioresource Technology, 243 :1207-1215 [DOI] [Details]
(2019)'The effect of electricity markets, and renewable electricity penetration, on the levelised cost of energy of an advanced electro-fuel system incorporating carbon capture and utilisation'
McDonagh, S;Wall, DM;Deane, P;Murphy, JD (2019) 'The effect of electricity markets, and renewable electricity penetration, on the levelised cost of energy of an advanced electro-fuel system incorporating carbon capture and utilisation'. Renewable Energy, 131 :364-371 [DOI] [Details]
(2018)'Modelling of a power-to-gas system to predict the levelised cost of energy of an advanced renewable gaseous transport fuel'
McDonagh, S;O'Shea, R;Wall, DM;Deane, JP;Murphy, JD (2018) 'Modelling of a power-to-gas system to predict the levelised cost of energy of an advanced renewable gaseous transport fuel'. Applied Energy, 215 :444-456 [DOI] [Details]
(2018)'An economic and carbon analysis of biomethane production from food waste to be used as a transport fuel in Mexico'
Chan Gutierrez, E., Wall, D.M., O'Shea, R., Gomez, M.M., Murphy, J.D. (2018) 'An economic and carbon analysis of biomethane production from food waste to be used as a transport fuel in Mexico'. Journal Of Cleaner Production, 196 :852-862 [DOI] [Details]
(2018)'Techno-economic analysis of biogas upgrading via amine scrubber, carbon capture and ex-situ methanation'
Vo, Truc T. Q.; Wall, David M.; Ring, Denis; Rajendran, Karthik; Murphy, Jerry D. (2018) 'Techno-economic analysis of biogas upgrading via amine scrubber, carbon capture and ex-situ methanation'. Applied Energy, 212 :1191-1202   [DOI] [Full Text] [Details]
(2017)'Assessing the total theoretical, and financially viable, resource of biomethane for injection to a natural gas network in a region'
O'Shea, Richard,Wall, David M.,Kilgallon, Ian,Browne, James D.,Murphy, Jerry D. (2017) 'Assessing the total theoretical, and financially viable, resource of biomethane for injection to a natural gas network in a region'. Applied Energy, 188 :237-256   [DOI] [Details]
(2017)'The potential of power to gas to provide green gas utilising existing CO2 sources from industries, distilleries and wastewater treatment facilities'
O'Shea, Richard; Wall, David M.; McDonagh, Shane; Murphy, Jerry D. (2017) 'The potential of power to gas to provide green gas utilising existing CO2 sources from industries, distilleries and wastewater treatment facilities'. Renewable Energy, 114 :1090-1100   [DOI] [Full Text] [Details]
(2017)'An energy and greenhouse gas comparison of centralised biogas production with road haulage of pig slurry, and decentralised biogas production with biogas transportation in a low-pressure pipe network'
O'Shea, R;Wall, DM;Murphy, JD (2017) 'An energy and greenhouse gas comparison of centralised biogas production with road haulage of pig slurry, and decentralised biogas production with biogas transportation in a low-pressure pipe network'. Applied Energy, 208 :108-122 [DOI] [Details]
(2017)'Use of surplus wind electricity in Ireland to produce compressed renewable gaseous transport fuel through biological power to gas systems'
Vo, TTQ;Xia, A;Wall, DM;Murphy, JD (2017) 'Use of surplus wind electricity in Ireland to produce compressed renewable gaseous transport fuel through biological power to gas systems'. Renewable Energy, 105 :495-504 [DOI] [Details]
(2016)'Investigating two-phase digestion of grass silage for demand-driven biogas applications: Effect of particle size and rumen fluid addition'
Wall, D. M.,Allen, E.,O'Shea, R.,O'Kiely, P.,Murphy, J. D. (2016) 'Investigating two-phase digestion of grass silage for demand-driven biogas applications: Effect of particle size and rumen fluid addition'. Renewable Energy, 86 :1215-1223   [DOI] [Details]
(2016)'Modelling a demand driven biogas system for production of electricity at peak demand and for production of biomethane at other times'
O'Shea, R., Kilgallon, I., Wall, D., Murphy, J.D. (2016) 'Modelling a demand driven biogas system for production of electricity at peak demand and for production of biomethane at other times'. Bioresource Technology, [DOI] [Details]
(2016)'A detailed assessment of resource of biomethane from first, second and third generation substrates'
Allen, Eoin,Wall, David M.,Herrmann, Christiane,Murphy, Jerry D. (2016) 'A detailed assessment of resource of biomethane from first, second and third generation substrates'. Renewable Energy, 87, Part 1 :656-665   [DOI] [Details]
(2016)'Quantification and location of a renewable gas industry based on digestion of wastes in Ireland'
O'Shea, R., Kilgallon, I., Wall, D., Murphy, J.D. (2016) 'Quantification and location of a renewable gas industry based on digestion of wastes in Ireland'. Applied Energy, [DOI] [Details]
(2016)'Assessment of the impact of incentives and of scale on the build order and location of biomethane facilities and the feedstock they utilise'
O'Shea, R., Kilgallon, I., Wall, D., Murphy, J.D. (2016) 'Assessment of the impact of incentives and of scale on the build order and location of biomethane facilities and the feedstock they utilise'. Applied Energy, [DOI] [Details]
(2016)'Optimised biogas production from microalgae through co-digestion with carbon-rich co-substrates'
Herrmann, Christiane,Kalita, Navajyoti,Wall, David,Xia, Ao,Murphy, Jerry D. (2016) 'Optimised biogas production from microalgae through co-digestion with carbon-rich co-substrates'. Bioresource Technology, 214 :328-337   [DOI] [Details]
(2016)'Biogas production generated through continuous digestion of natural and cultivated seaweeds with dairy slurry'
Tabassum, M., Wall, D., Murphy, J.D. (2016) 'Biogas production generated through continuous digestion of natural and cultivated seaweeds with dairy slurry'. Bioresource Technology, [DOI] [Details]
(2016)'Sustainability assessment of large-scale storage technologies for surplus electricity using group multi-criteria decision analysis'
Vo, Truc T. Q.,Xia, Ao,Rogan, Fionn,Wall, David M.,Murphy, Jerry D. (2016) 'Sustainability assessment of large-scale storage technologies for surplus electricity using group multi-criteria decision analysis'. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy, :1-15   [DOI] [Details]
(2015)'Methanosarcina Play an Important Role in Anaerobic Co-Digestion of the Seaweed Ulva lactuca: Taxonomy and Predicted Metabolism of Functional Microbial Communities'
FitzGerald, Jamie A.,Allen, Eoin,Wall, David M.,Jackson, Stephen A.,Murphy, Jerry D.,Dobson, Alan D. W. (2015) 'Methanosarcina Play an Important Role in Anaerobic Co-Digestion of the Seaweed Ulva lactuca: Taxonomy and Predicted Metabolism of Functional Microbial Communities'. PLoS ONE, 10 (11)   [DOI] [Details]
(2015)'Investigation of effect of particle size and rumen fluid addition on specific methane yields of high lignocellulose grass silage'
Wall, D. M.,Straccialini, B.,Allen, E.,Nolan, P.,Herrmann, C.,O’Kiely, P.,Murphy, J. D. (2015) 'Investigation of effect of particle size and rumen fluid addition on specific methane yields of high lignocellulose grass silage'. Bioresource Technology, 192 :266-271   [DOI] [Details]
(2015)'What is the gross energy yield of third generation gaseous biofuel sourced from seaweed?'
Allen E., Wall, D., Herrmann, C., Xia, A., Murphy, J.D. (2015) 'What is the gross energy yield of third generation gaseous biofuel sourced from seaweed?'. Energy, (81):352-360 [DOI] [Details]
(2014)'Optimisation of digester performance with increasing organic loading rate for mono- and co-digestion of grass silage and dairy slurry'
David Wall, Eoin Allen, Barbara Straccialini, Padraig O'Kiely, Jerry D Murphy (2014) 'Optimisation of digester performance with increasing organic loading rate for mono- and co-digestion of grass silage and dairy slurry'. Bioresource Technology, [DOI] [Details]
(2014)'Investigation of the optimal percentage of green seaweed that may be co-digested with dairy slurry to produce gaseous biofuel'
Allen, Eoin,Wall, David M.,Herrmann, Christiane,Murphy, Jerry D. (2014) 'Investigation of the optimal percentage of green seaweed that may be co-digested with dairy slurry to produce gaseous biofuel'. Bioresour. Technol, 170 (0):436-444   [DOI] [Details]
(2014)'The effect of trace element addition to mono-digestion of grass silage at high organic loading rates'
Wall, D., Allen, E., Straccialini, B., O’Kiely, P., Murphy, J.D. (2014) 'The effect of trace element addition to mono-digestion of grass silage at high organic loading rates'. Bioresource Technology, [DOI] [Details]
(2013)'The potential for biomethane from grass and slurry to satisfy renewable energy targets'
Wall, David M.,O’Kiely, Padraig,Murphy, Jerry D. (2013) 'The potential for biomethane from grass and slurry to satisfy renewable energy targets'. Bioresour. Technol, 149 (0):425-431   [DOI] [Details]
(2012)'Reconstitution of dewatered food processing residuals with manure to increase energy production from anaerobic digestion'
Wall, David M.,Wu-Haan, Wei,Safferman, Steven I. (2012) 'Reconstitution of dewatered food processing residuals with manure to increase energy production from anaerobic digestion'. Biomass and Bioenergy, 46 (0):429-434   [DOI] [Details]

Published Reports

 YearPublication
(2021)Renewable Gas–discussion on the state of the industry and its future in a decarbonised world.
J Liebetrau, N Rensberg, D Maguire, D Archer, D Wall, JD Murphy (2021) Renewable Gas–discussion on the state of the industry and its future in a decarbonised world. IEA Bioenergy Task 37, Ireland. [Details]
(2020)Integration of Biogas Systems into the Energy System: Technical aspects of flexible plant operation.
J Liebetrau, P Kornatz, U Baier, D Wall, JD Murphy (2020) Integration of Biogas Systems into the Energy System: Technical aspects of flexible plant operation. IEA Bioenergy Task 37, Ireland. [Details]
(2018)Green Gas - Facilitating a future green gas grid through the production of renewable gas.
DM Wall, M Dumont, JD Murphy (2018) Green Gas - Facilitating a future green gas grid through the production of renewable gas. IEA Bioenergy Task 37, Ireland. [Details]

Professional Activities

Education

 YearInstitutionQualificationSubject
2015University College Cork PhDEnergy Engineering
2008University College Dublin BEBiosystems Engineering
2010Michigan State University MScBiosystems Engineering

Other Activities

 Description

David represents Ireland at the International Energy Agency Bioenergy: Task 37 Energy from Biogas. He is an Editor for the Frontiers of Energy Research Journal under the topic “Advanced Biofuel Production and Cascading Bioenergy Systems”.

David has also worked on a number of professional projects including SEAI’s “Assessment of the cost and benefits of biogas and biomethane in Ireland” and the Dingle Feasibility Study for creating a Sustainable Energy Community. He has been invited to speak to the Bioenergy Steering Group for the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (DCCAE) in the development of the new Bioenergy Plan for Ireland, and to stakeholders of the Irish Transport Energy network.

Teaching Activities

Teaching Interests

Traffic surveys; Road safety; Traffic Flow Theory; Traffic signal timings in urban areas; Traffic calming; Road capacity; Urban road design for non-car use; Design speeds and sight distance; Geometric road design including for horizontal alignment and vertical alignment.

Transport Policy, Comparison of transport modes (cars, trains, metro, light rail, buses); Energy use and greenhouse gas emissions associated with different transportation systems; Biofuels, Decarbonisation of transport; Sustainable transport and urban planning; Future traffic flows.


Module Coordinator

CE4012 Traffic and Highways 
NE3004/CE6042 Transportation and Energy

Contact details

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University College Cork

Coláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh

College Road, Cork T12 K8AF

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