Marine Institute named finalist in SEAI Energy Awards 2025 for public sector leadership in sustainability
The Marine Institute has been selected as a finalist in the SEAI Energy Awards 2025, recognising a decade of sustainability action at the Marine Institute. From transitioning research vessels to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), to powering offices and research facilities with on-site solar energy and achieving top-tier My Green Lab sustainability accreditation for six laboratories, the Marine Institute is leading climate action by example.
The SEAI Energy Awards celebrate excellence in energy efficiency and renewable energy across Ireland, recognising organisations, communities and individuals who are driving innovation and accelerating the transition to a low-carbon future.
“Being named a finalist at this year’s SEAI Energy Awards highlights the Marine Institute’s role as a public sector leader and exemplar in energy and climate action,” said Dr Rick Officer, CEO of the Marine Institute. “Sustainability is at the heart of how we work at the Marine Institute - it’s key to our mission of enabling the sustainable use of Ireland’s marine resources, and it’s embedded in our culture and daily operations.”
As a public sector body, the Marine Institute has clear climate and energy targets to meet. It has adopted a structured and proactive decarbonisation programme, outlined in the annual Climate Action Roadmap. The implementation is supported through energy management and a dedicated Get Greener team, which helps to continuously improve energy use while focusing on the areas where it can have the greatest impact.
The Marine Institute’s decarbonisation work is built on four pillars:
1. Energy Management – Using international standards (ISO 50001) to monitor, manage and continually improve energy use on land and at sea.
2. Solar – Investing in renewable electricity, with existing solar PV at Oranmore and Newport facilities and planning permission secured for two new solar projects (ground-mount and carport) at Oranmore that will see solar generation meeting over a quarter of the Marine Institute’s electricity needs.
3. Biofuels – Transitioning research vessels from marine gas oil to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), a cleaner, low-carbon alternative.
4. Staff Engagement and Training – Building a culture of responsibility through training, awareness days and practical engagement so that sustainability is embedded across teams.
“Being a finalist isn’t just about recognition – it’s about showing what’s possible in the public sector when sustainability is supported from the top down and put into practice by the people on the ground. It also allows us to share our learning, strengthen our networks and work with other colleagues across the public sector to ensure we can achieve our climate targets,” says Toni Hollowell, Facilities Manager at the Marine Institute.
The Marine Institute delivered a 44.6% improvement in energy efficiency compared with the 2009 baseline and has also achieved a 5.7% reduction in overall CO₂ emissions. To date, the Marine Institute has delivered a wide range of energy upgrades and operational changes, including:
• Research vessels
o Optimising routes and reviewing energy use after each survey.
o Raising awareness of fuel consumption with vessel users and operators.
o Introducing HVO biofuel, with more than 20% of vessel fuel in 2024 coming from this cleaner alternative – around 500,000 litres, over ten times more than in 2023.
• Onshore infrastructure
o Installing solar panels in Oranmore and Newport facilities, generating enough electricity at Oranmore to power around 40 homes, and exporting surplus energy back to the grid from Newport.
o Upgrading boilers, lighting, heating controls, building management systems and lab/server room air-conditioning.
o Installing EV chargers for staff and visitors.
o Achieving top-tier My Green Lab accreditation (Green and Platinum levels) for six laboratories.
In a further endorsement of its sustainability efforts, the Marine Institute was recognised as a finalist at the Galway Chamber Business Awards 2025 in the Shannon Airport – Sustainability Initiative Award category. This shortlisting further acknowledges the Marine Institute’s consistent work in reducing emissions, improving energy efficiency and embedding sustainability across its activities.
Through its Climate Action Roadmap and ongoing initiatives, the Marine Institute continues to lead by example in marine sustainability and climate action, complementing its core scientific work in sustainable seafood, marine spatial planning, marine biodiversity protection, offshore renewable energy and understanding how the ocean both influences and is impacted by climate change.
ENDS
For any media enquiries please contact:
Sinéad Coyne e: sinead.coyne@marine.ie | m: +353 (0)87 947 7090
Kathleen Sweeney e: kathleen.sweeney@marine.ie | m: +353 (0)87 094 5754
Communications Office, Marine Institute e: communications@marine.ie | t: +353 (0)91 387 200
About the Marine Institute
The Marine Institute is Ireland’s scientific agency responsible for supporting the sustainable development of the State’s maritime area and resources. The Institute conducts applied research and provides scientific knowledge, advice and services to government, industry and other stakeholders and users.