Energy Minister Eamon Ryan TD today announced further investment in Ireland’s ocean energy development, through IDA Ireland.
Tonn Energy, a joint venture between Irish ocean energy company Wavebob and Swedish electricity utility Vattenfall, will receive grant assistance for the development of the world’s first fully commercial ocean energy generator. Significant research and development work will be undertaken at the national wave energy test site at Belmullet Co. Mayo.
It follows on from last week’s €4.3 million Government investment in ten ocean energy companies, as part of the overall National Ocean Energy Strategy. This Strategy will see over 500MW (megawatts) of ocean energy generated by 2020 with Tonn Energy delivering over 250 MW (megawatts) of electricity in that timeframe.
“Capturing the power of our waves is a hugely complex process, requiring intensive research and testing, as well as significant investment,” said Minister Ryan.
“It takes time to get it right and with this grant assistance; Tonn Energy could be the first company in the world to succeed. This investment is a crucial step in realising our clean energy ambitions.
At the North West of Europe and facing directly into the Atlantic Ocean, our wave resources are unrivalled. They present a real opportunity to generate carbon free electricity for our own market and beyond in the future.”
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Note to editors:
Tonn Energy is among the first commercial wave power development companies in Ireland. It combines the major backing and expertise of one of Europe’s large power utilities, Vattenfall, with innovative wave energy conversion technology company, Wavebob.
Tonn’s immediate focus will be Research and Development on a site off the coast of Co. Mayo, being planned by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), which is currently making substantial investments in the necessary infrastructure at Belmullet, Co. Mayo, and whose involvement is crucial to the success of the project. The test site is one of the key elements of the Government’s Ocean Energy Programme. Tonn Energy is one of the first industry organisations collaborating with SEI on this project. SEI is already supported in developing the facility by ESBI. Other partners, whose collaboration is also critical, are the Government (through the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources), IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Údarás na Gaeltachta and Mayo Co. Co.
Vattenfall
Vattenfall, a Swedish public limited company, generates, distributes and sells electricity and heatto customers throughout Europe. It is one of Europe’s largest electrical utilities - see www.vattenfall.com for further information.
Wavebob
Wavebob Ltd is an indigenous Irish technology firm, founded in 1999, headquartered in Ireland holding international patents for wave energy conversion technology.
Wavebob Ltd has produced the first Irish device and one of only a handful worldwide to have successfully harnessed the energy of the ocean waves. The prototype of ‘Wavebob’ was installed on the Marine Institute’s test site at Spiddle, Co.Galway in March 2006. It was the first device to produce electricity in Irish waters, achieving 3000 hours of operation