Research Profile

Richard O'Shea

Biography

Dr Richard O’Shea is a Lecturer in Sustainability in Enterprise with the School of Engineering in University College Cork (UCC). Richard worked as a Senior Postdoctoral Research, and a Postdoctoral Researcher with the Bioenergy and Biofuels research Group in MaREI with an industrial partner company. His prime area of work was assessing methods to decarbonise a large facility in the food and beverage sector in Ireland. Richard also worked as a design engineer with RPS primarily in the area of HVAC. He obtained his PhD degree in Energy Engineering from UCC in 2018. His research has focused on biomethane production via anaerobic digestion, resource assessments, technoeconomic analysis, optimisation, GIS, and multi criteria decision analysis. This has led to over 30 peer-reviewed journal publications in journals including Applied Energy, Bioresource Technology, and Renewable Energy.

Research Interests

I have a substantial  interest in sustainability and how technologies, processes, products, and companies can be compared whilst considering the three pillars of sustainability. As a result of work completed during my; PhD studies, my time as a design engineer, my time as a post-doctoral and senior post-doctoral researcher, as well as during my time as a Lecturer, I have developed deep competencies in several research areas relevant to sustainability and sustainable energy innovation.

I possess deep technical expertise in the field of anaerobic digestion (AD) covering all elements from; reactor design, experimental design, and analysis of data. I have expertise in assessing the economic performance of technologies through the use of techno-economic analysis (economic pillar). I have completed lifecycle assessments to determine the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission savings from several technologies (environmental pillar). I possess knowledge of the likely impacts which communities in the vicinity of decarbonisation projects are likely to consider (social pillar). I am skilled in the development of GIS models for renewable energy resource assessments  and the identification of the cost optimal way of managing biological nutrients produced during the AD process.


My first research interest is the use of Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) to combine multiple metrics from the different pillars of sustainability so as to inform decision making processes in a transparent and data driven manner.  I applied 5 MCDM methods throughout the course of research completed during my time as a member of research and teaching staff at UCC and developed a novel method of conducting sensitivity analysis for three of these methods. I believe that the use of MCDM as a tool to measure sustainability is a key area of research which can result in immediately applicable actions when used to assess technologies, process, products, or companies in sustainable energy innovation.

My second research interest is the development of novel analysis methods that; consider the performance of multiple sustainable energy technologies, their interactions with one another, and their performance with regards to sustainability. Based on these analysis methods, further decision support tools which can provide recommendations as to which technologies to install, and how best to operate installed technologies to maximise sustainability are of interest to me. I am interested in pursuing multi-disciplinary research with existing expertise in UCC, specifically in CUBS and the Energy Policy and Modelling Group, along with existing industrial collaborators.

My third research interest is the integration of onsite renewable production with industries. I believe that the production of onsite renewable energy can increase the energy security and sustainability of industries across a range of scales. I am interested in the development of a high performance, low maintenance AD system that can be implemented by small to medium companies to increase their energy security, improve their sustainability, and enable them to continue to provide local employment. 

An additional research interest is the use of MCDM methods to inform sustainable investment decisions made by private or national investment funds whilst considering the three pillars of sustainability. Data required may be sourced from reports published as part of the upcoming Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). I would like to collaborate with any like-minded academic or research staff in UCC on this topic.

Research Grants

 ProjectFunding
Body
Start DateEnd DateAward
SFI 12/RC/2302_P2 "Spoke RA5 Pernod Ricard2 IND"Science Foundation Ireland02-AUG-2131-JUL-22€140,000.00
Expanding the alternative use and circularity potential of crops (EXPECT)Teagasc01-OCT-2130-SEP-25€96,000.00

Publications

Peer Reviewed Journals

 YearPublication
(2023)'Decarbonising distilled spirits: An assessment of the potential associated with anaerobic digestion of by-products at nine operational distilleries'
O'Shea, R;Yang, Y;Kansagra, K;Hickey, DT;Kohler, D;Murphy, JD (2023) 'Decarbonising distilled spirits: An assessment of the potential associated with anaerobic digestion of by-products at nine operational distilleries'. Journal of Environmental Management, 329 [DOI] [Details]
(2015)'The Hurst Exponent as an Indicator of the Behaviour of a Model Monopile in an Ocean Wave Testing Basin'
Vikram Pakrashi, Richard O'Shea, Vesna Jaksic, Jimmy Murphy (2015) 'The Hurst Exponent as an Indicator of the Behaviour of a Model Monopile in an Ocean Wave Testing Basin'. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 628 (1)   [DOI] [Full Text] [Details]
(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)'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)'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)'What is the energy balance of electrofuels produced through power-to-fuel integration with biogas facilities?'
Gray, N;O'Shea, R;Smyth, B;Lens, PNL;Murphy, JD (2022) 'What is the energy balance of electrofuels produced through power-to-fuel integration with biogas facilities?'. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 155 [DOI] [Details]
(2022)'Optimisation and performance prediction of photosynthetic biogas upgrading using a bubble column'
Bose, A;O'Shea, R;Lin, RC;Murphy, JD (2022) 'Optimisation and performance prediction of photosynthetic biogas upgrading using a bubble column'. Chemical Engineering Journal, 437 [DOI] [Details]
(2022)'Towards green whiskey production: Anaerobic digestion of distillery by-products and the effects of pretreatment'
Kang, XH;Lin, RC;Wu, BT;Li, LH;Deng, C;Rajendran, K;Sun, YM;O'Shea, R;Murphy, JD (2022) 'Towards green whiskey production: Anaerobic digestion of distillery by-products and the effects of pretreatment'. The Journal of Cleaner Production, 357 [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)'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)'The gas grid as a vector for regional decarbonisation- a techno economic case study for biomethane injection and natural gas heavy goods vehicles'
Keogh, N;Corr, D;O'Shea, R;Monaghan, RFD (2022) 'The gas grid as a vector for regional decarbonisation- a techno economic case study for biomethane injection and natural gas heavy goods vehicles'. Applied Energy, 323 [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]
(2021)'A comparative evaluation of design factors on bubble column operation in photosynthetic biogas upgrading'
Bose, A;O'Shea, R;Lin, R;Murphy, JD (2021) 'A comparative evaluation of design factors on bubble column operation in photosynthetic biogas upgrading'. Biofuel Research Journal-Brj, 8 :1351-1373 [DOI] [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]
(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)'Decarbonising ships, planes and trucks: An analysis of suitable low-carbon fuels for the maritime, aviation and haulage sectors'
Gray N.;McDonagh S.;O'Shea R.;Smyth B.;Murphy J.D. (2021) 'Decarbonising ships, planes and trucks: An analysis of suitable low-carbon fuels for the maritime, aviation and haulage sectors'. Advances In Applied Energy, 1 [DOI] [Details]
(2021)'Production of advanced fuels through integration of biological, thermo-chemical and power to gas technologies in a circular cascading bio-based system'
Wu B.;Lin R.;O'Shea R.;Deng C.;Rajendran K.;Murphy J.D. (2021) 'Production of advanced fuels through integration of biological, thermo-chemical and power to gas technologies in a circular cascading bio-based system'. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 135 [DOI] [Details]
(2021)'Assessment of pretreatment and digestion temperature on anaerobic digestion of whiskey byproducts and microbial taxonomy'
Kang, Xihui; Lin, Richen; Li, Lianhua; Wu, Benteng; Deng, Chen; O'Shea, Richard; Sun, Yongming; Murphy, Jerry D. (2021) 'Assessment of pretreatment and digestion temperature on anaerobic digestion of whiskey byproducts and microbial taxonomy'. Energy Conversion and Management, 243 :1-12 [DOI] [Full Text] [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)'A perspective on the efficacy of green gas production via integration of technologies in novel cascading circular bio-systems'
Lin, RC;O'Shea, R;Deng, C;Wu, BT;Murphy, JD (2021) 'A perspective on the efficacy of green gas production via integration of technologies in novel cascading circular bio-systems'. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 150 [DOI] [Details]
(2021)'Implications of European Union recast Renewable Energy Directive sustainability criteria for renewable heat and transport: Case study of willow biomethane in Ireland'
Long, A;Bose, A;O'Shea, R;Monaghan, R;Murphy, JD (2021) 'Implications of European Union recast Renewable Energy Directive sustainability criteria for renewable heat and transport: Case study of willow biomethane in Ireland'. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 150 [DOI] [Details]
(2021)'Design, Commissioning, and Performance Assessment of a Lab-Scale Bubble Column Reactor for Photosynthetic Biogas Upgrading with Spirulina platensis'
Bose, A;O'Shea, R;Lin, RC;Murphy, JD (2021) 'Design, Commissioning, and Performance Assessment of a Lab-Scale Bubble Column Reactor for Photosynthetic Biogas Upgrading with Spirulina platensis'. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 60 :5688-5704 [DOI] [Details]
(2020)'A perspective on novel cascading algal biomethane biorefinery systems'
Bose A;O'Shea R;Lin R;Murphy JD; (2020) 'A perspective on novel cascading algal biomethane biorefinery systems'. Bioresource Technology, 304 [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]
(2020)'Improving gaseous biofuel yield from seaweed through a cascading circular bioenergy system integrating anaerobic digestion and pyrolysis'
Deng C.;Lin R.;Kang X.;Wu B.;O'Shea R.;Murphy J.D. (2020) 'Improving gaseous biofuel yield from seaweed through a cascading circular bioenergy system integrating anaerobic digestion and pyrolysis'. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 128 [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)'A perspective on novel cascading algal biomethane biorefinery systems'
Bose, Archishman; O'Shea, Richard; Lin, Richen; Murphy, Jerry D. (2020) 'A perspective on novel cascading algal biomethane biorefinery systems'. Bioresource Technology, 304 [DOI] [Full Text] [Details]
(2020)'Anaerobic digestion performance and microbial community structures in biogas production from whiskey distillers organic by-products'
Jackson S.A.;Kang X.;O'Shea R.;O'Leary N.;Murphy J.D.;Dobson A.D.W. (2020) 'Anaerobic digestion performance and microbial community structures in biogas production from whiskey distillers organic by-products'. Bioresource Technology Reports, 12 [DOI] [Details]
(2020)'A perspective on decarbonizing whiskey using renewable gaseous biofuel in a circular bioeconomy process'
Kang X.;Lin R.;O'Shea R.;Deng C.;Li L.;Sun Y.;Murphy J. (2020) 'A perspective on decarbonizing whiskey using renewable gaseous biofuel in a circular bioeconomy process'. The Journal of Cleaner Production, 255 [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]
(2019)'How to optimise photosynthetic biogas upgrading: a perspective on system design and microalgae selection'
Bose, Archishman; Lin, Richen; Rajendran, Karthik; O'Shea, Richard; Xia, Ao; Murphy, Jerry D. (2019) 'How to optimise photosynthetic biogas upgrading: a perspective on system design and microalgae selection'. Biotechnology Advances, 37 (8)   [DOI] [Full Text] [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)'Assessment of continuous fermentative hydrogen and methane co-production using macro- and micro-algae with increasing organic loading rate'
Ding, Lingkan; Chan Gutierrez, Enrique; Cheng, Jun; Xia, Ao; O'Shea, Richard; Guneratnam, Amita Jacob; Murphy, Jerry D. (2018) 'Assessment of continuous fermentative hydrogen and methane co-production using macro- and micro-algae with increasing organic loading rate'. Energy, 151 :760-770   [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, R;Wall, DM;Kilgallon, I;Browne, JD;Murphy, JD (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)'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)'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]
(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)'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)'Low carbon pathways for light goods vehicles in Ireland'
Mulholland, E;O'Shea, RSK;Murphy, JD;Gallachoir, BPO (2016) 'Low carbon pathways for light goods vehicles in Ireland'. 57 :53-62 [DOI] [Details]
(2015)'Ensiling of seaweed for a seaweed biofuel industry'
Herrmann, C;FitzGerald, J;O'Shea, R;Xia, A;O'Kiely, P;Murphy, JD (2015) 'Ensiling of seaweed for a seaweed biofuel industry'. Bioresource Technology, 196 :301-313 [DOI] [Details]
(2015)'Dynamic response signatures of a scaled model platform for floating wind turbines in an ocean wave basin'
Jaksic V, O'Shea R, Cahill P, Murphy J, Mandic DP, Pakrashi V (2015) 'Dynamic response signatures of a scaled model platform for floating wind turbines in an ocean wave basin'. Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences, 373 (2035) [DOI] [Details]
(2015)'Investigating two-phase digestion of grass silage for demand-driven biogas applications'
Wall, D., Allen, E., O'Shea, R., O'Kiely, P., Murphy, J.D. (2015) 'Investigating two-phase digestion of grass silage for demand-driven biogas applications'. Renewable Energy, [DOI] [Details]

Conference Publications

 YearPublication
(2015)11TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON DAMAGE ASSESSMENT OF STRUCTURES (DAMAS 2015)
Pakrashi, V;O'Shea, R;Jaksic, V;Murphy, J (2015) The Hurst Exponent as an Indicator of the Behaviour of a Model Monopile in an Ocean Wave Testing Basin 11TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON DAMAGE ASSESSMENT OF STRUCTURES (DAMAS 2015) [DOI] [Details]
(2013)Dynamic Responses of a Scaled Tension Leg Platform, Wind Turbine Support Structure in a Wave Tank
Murphy, J,O'Shea, R,O'Sullivan, K,Pakrashi, V,Basu, B (2013) DAMAGE ASSESSMENT OF STRUCTURES X, PTS 1 AND 2 Dynamic Responses of a Scaled Tension Leg Platform, Wind Turbine Support Structure in a Wave Tank , pp.563-570 [DOI] [Details]

Professional Activities

Professional Associations

 AssociationFunctionFrom / To
International Society on MCDM Multiple Criteria Decision Making Member28-APR-22 / 20-APR-23

Committees

 CommitteeFunctionFrom / To
School of Engineering and Architecture Teaching and Learning Committee Representative for Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering2021 / 2023

Employment

 EmployerPositionFrom / To
Lecturer in Sustainability in Enterprise UCC01-APR-21 / 20-APR-23
Senior post-doctoral researcher MaREI UCC01-JAN-20 / 01-APR-21

Education

 YearInstitutionQualificationSubject
2017UCC PhDEnergy Engineering
2014UCC BE (Hons)Energy Engineering

Teaching Activities

Teaching Interests

I developed three new research informed modules (CE4024, CE5010 and CE5009) which I deliver to a combination of Undergraduate, Masters, and Higher Diploma students. My lectures make use of interactive classroom assessment techniques (MS Forms, Slido, Canvas, and MS Teams) to promote student engagement. I co-ordinate the delivery of CE4001 – Architecture and Planning for 4th year Civil Engineering students. ). To date I have supervised and mentored undergraduate research projects for CE4002 (4 students), as well as 8 masters research projects: CE6009 (2 students), PE6050 (2 students), and NE6009 (4 students). I am also co-supervising 7 PhD students. 

Recent Postgraduates

 Graduation YearStudent NameInstitutionDegree TypeThesis Title
2022Archishman Bose NUI (UCC)PHDPhotosynthetic Biogas Upgrading

Contact details

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