Personal profile
Biography
Niall P. Dunphy BSc, MSc(Gov), PhD, MIEnvSc is a Senior Research Fellow in the School of Engineering and Architecture and Sustainability Institute at University College Cork, Ireland.
Niall leads the Cleaner Production Promotion Unit, a multidisciplinary research group working at the intersection of the social sciences with science and engineering. The group conducts engaged research focused on the theme of society, sustainability and energy.
His expertise lies in the design and realisation of multi- and inter-disciplinary research focused on understanding people’s attitudes and perceptions relevant to sustainability, and on exploring how their behaviour and practices are reflected in their interaction with technology deployments.
Niall has been principal investigator of more than 30 multidisciplinary research projects, with funding awards of over €11.5m.
Research Interests
- Human and societal aspects of sustainability.
- People’s relationship with energy and the energy system.
- Perceptions of, and attititude towards, novel technologies.
- Acceptability and social acceptance of infrastructure deployment.
- Human-centred sustainable buildings.
Research Grants
| Funding Body | Title | Period | Award |
| Environmental Protection Agency | CLIMATUDE: Understanding Irish people's attitudes, beliefs and values related to climate change | 2025-28 | €658,181 |
| EU DG-REFORM (subcontract) | APRE: Accelerating permitting for renewable energy – Improving incentives,spatial planning and acceptance for renewable energy developments in Ireland | 2024-25 | €77,000 |
| Environmental Protection Agency | JustCities Hub: contribute to urban climate policy by improving collaborative scientific and public service expertise in sustainable transitions centred on principles of justice, resilience, and community vibrancy. | 2024-28 | €593,579 |
| Horizon Europe | NATURSEA-PV: Novel Eco-Cementitious Materials and Components for Durable, Competitive, and Bio-Inspired Offshore Floating PV (Co-PI with Dr Anne Marie O'Hagan) | 2022-26 | €300,625 |
| Horizon 2020 | ENCLUDE: Energy Citizens for Inclusive Decarbonization | 2021-24 | €281,937 |
| Horizon 2020 | EUB SuperHub: European Building Sustainability Performance and Energy Certification Hub | 2021-24 | €199,000 |
| Horizon 2020 | X-ROTOR: X-shaped Radical Offshore wind Turbine for Overall Cost of Energy Reduction (with Dr Jimmy Murphy, Co-PI) | 2021-23 | €585,016 |
| Horizon 2020 | ACCEPT: Active Communities & Energy Prosumers for the Energy Transition | 2021-24 | €363,000 |
| European Maritime and Fisheries Fund | SafeWAVE: Streamlining the Assessment of Environmental Effects of Wave Energy [Co-investigator with Prof Gregorio Iglesias (PI) and Dr Anne Marie O'Hagan] | 2020-23 | €229,720 |
| Horizon 2020 | EnergyMeasures: Tailored measures supporting energy vulnerable households | 2020-24 | €338,625 |
| Horizon 2020 | REALISE: Demonstrating a Refinery-Adapted Cluster-Integrated Strategy to Enable Full-Chain CCUS Implementation | 2020-23 | €368,625 |
| Environmental Protection Agency |
RESOLFUI: Residential Solid Fuel use [Co-investigator with Dr John Eakins (PI), Dr Bernadette Power, Economics and Dr Celine McInerney, Accounting and Finance] | 2019-21 | €250,000 |
| Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland |
EnergyPOLITIES: Politico-institutional framing of collective engagements with the energy system | 2018-22 | €354,721 |
| Science Foundation Ireland | Re-Wind: Reuse and Recycling of Decommissioned Composite Material Wind Turbine Blades. [Co-Investigator with Dr Paul Leahy, Engineering (PI) and Dr Ger Mullally, Sociology] | 2018-20 | €319,831 |
| Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland | CrowdPower: Support tools for community renewable energy | 2018-24 | €284,214 |
| Environmental Protection Agency | Imagining2050: Engaging, Envisioning and Enabling Dialogue on Pathways towards a Low Carbon, Climate Resilient Ireland. [Co-Investigator with Dr Ger Mullally, Sociology (PI), et al.] | 2018-20 | €378,344 |
| Horizon 2020 | NewTrend: New integrated methodology and tools for retrofit design towards a next generation of energy efficient and sustainable buildings and districts | 2015-18 | €369,982 |
| Horizon 2020 | ENTRUST: Energy System Transition through Stakeholder Activation, Education and Skills Development | 2015-18 | €1,044,304 |
| FP7 | UMBRELLA: Business Model Innovation for High Performance Buildings supported by whole Life Optimisation. | 2012-15 | €320,000 |
| NDRC | SmartCarbon: renovation decision support tool | 2011-12 | €15,000 |
Current PhD Students
| Name | Research topic |
| Claudia Hihetah | Developing effective policy responses to address energy poverty and increase energy justice. |
| Karla Santos | Societal engagement methods focussing on improving the resilience of low-income households. |
| Fergal Gough | Community dimensions of reuse and recycling of end-of-life wind turbine blades |
Recent PhD Students
| Name | Year | Title |
| Elizabeth Creed | 2025 | Community renewable energy: supports tools for energy citizens and community |
| Angela Nagle | 2022 |
Sustainability assessment of the repurposing of wind turbine blades [Thesis Link] |
UCC Futures (primary)
- Sustainability Institute
Other research affiliations
- UCC Futures - Collective Social Futures
PhD Supervision
- Available for PhD supervision
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 1 No Poverty -
SDG 5 Gender Equality -
SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production -
SDG 13 Climate Action -
SDG 14 Life Below Water -
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions -
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
Fingerprint
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Energy citizenship: Envisioning citizens' participation in the energy system
Dunphy, N. P., Lennon, B., Revez, A. & Pearce, B. B. J., 21 Dec 2024, Springer Nature. 138 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book › peer-review
Open Access -
A novel and comprehensive approach to mapping university research onto the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – the case of University College Cork, Ireland
O’Donoghue, J., Bolger, P., Kirrane, M. J., Barimo, J. F., Byrne, A., Dunphy, N. P., Edwards, C., Godsmark, C. N., Hogan, D., Loftus, S., Lucey, S., Rohan, J. F., White, A., O’Halloran, J., Cryan, J. F. & Cusack, S., 2025, In: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 26, 9, p. 55-71 17 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Deliberative Futures Workshops for Transformative Sustainability
Revez, A., Harris, C., Dunphy, N., Ó'Gallachóir, B., Byrne, E., Boyle, E. J., McGookin, C., Barry, J., Bolger, P., Rogan, F., Ellis, G., O'Dwyer, B., Flood, S., Creed, L. & Mullally, G., Jan 2025, Imagining, Designing and Teaching Regenerative Futures: Art-Science Approaches and Inspirations From Around the World. Springer Nature, p. 15-22 8 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedings › Chapter › peer-review
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Economic impacts of repowering wind turbines: a comparative analysis of advanced wind turbine technologies
Mikindani, D., Deeney, P. & Dunphy, N., 7 Jul 2025, In: Sustainable Energy Research. 12, 37.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
End-of-life wind turbine blades and paths to a circular economy
Deeney, P., Leahy, P. G., Campbell, K., Ducourtieux, C., Mullally, G. & Dunphy, N. P., Jan 2025, In: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 212, 115418.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access
Activities
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Decarbonisation project through an environmental justice lens
Dunphy, N. (Invited speaker)
29 Jan 2026Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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Towards a Sustainable Future. International Conference on the Energy Transition
Dunphy, N. (Participant)
28 Jan 2026Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participating in a conference, workshop, ...
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Public Acceptance: an issue or an opportunity
Dunphy, N. (Invited speaker)
27 Jan 2026Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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Understanding Irish people’s attitudes, beliefs and values related to climate change
Dunphy, N. (Speaker)
25 Nov 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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Pan-European Gathering on ‘Anticipation and Actionable Transformation’
Dunphy, N. (Participant)
Sep 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participating in a conference, workshop, ...
Prizes
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President's Award for Research Impacting the Sustainable Development Goals 2021 (project award)
Dunphy, N. (Recipient), 1 Jun 2021
Prize
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Press/Media
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Researchers at University College Cork Have Reported New Data on Wind Turbines (End-of-life Wind Turbine Blades and Paths To a Circular Economy)
Mullally, G., Leahy, P. & Dunphy, N.
3/04/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media
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New Sustainable Development Data Have Been Reported by Researchers at University College Cork [A Novel and Comprehensive Approach To Mapping University Research Onto the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (Sdgs) - the Case of ...]
Cryan, J. F., Bolger, P., Barimo, J., Loftus, S. U., Kirrane, M., O'Halloran, J., White, A., Cusack, S., Edwards, C., Godsmark, C., Rohan, J., Hogan, D., O'Donoghue, J., Lucey, S. & Dunphy, N.
27/03/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media
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-University College Cork: UCC researchers awarded EUR2.3m for new research to address climate and environmental challenges
Ryan, E., Cryan, J. F., Boylan, G., Hennessy, A., Bose, A., Kiely, M., Dunphy, N. & Vahid, A.
21/02/25
2 items of Media coverage
Press/Media
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EPA announces funding of €14.5m for new research to address climate and environmental challenges
Ryan, E., Bose, A. & Dunphy, N.
20/02/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media
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20 Feb 2025 UCC researchers awarded €2.3m for new research to address climate and environmental challenges
Ryan, E., Cryan, J. F., Boylan, G., Hennessy, A., Bose, A., Kiely, M., Dunphy, N. & Vahid, A.
20/02/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media