ESB International - ESBI News Archive 2011
ESB-led Westwave project awarded SEAI grant
ESB International Press Release - August 2011
ESB's ocean energy project, Westwave, has been awarded a grant of €238,000 by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
The grant is awarded under SEAI's Ocean Energy Prototype Research and Development Programme which focuses on the development and deployment of ocean energy devices and systems, with an emphasis on industry-led projects. The grant is payable on attainment of specific milestones during the pre-consenting phase of the project during 2011/2012 including grid feasibility studies, foreshore licence application, wave measurement buoy deployment, supply-chain analysis, initial environmental survey work, technology assessment, project design, environmental scoping report, grid connection application and foreshore lease application.
Award of this substantial grant to Westwave is a very positive step in the development of Ireland's fledgling wave energy industry and is a very strong vote of confidence in ESB's Ocean Energy strategy.
Speaking at the announcement of the grant, ESB Chief Executive, Padraig McManus, said: "I am delighted that SEAI has selected ESB's Westwave project for funding under their Prototype Research and Development Programme. ESB's sustainability strategy focuses on renewable energies and this welcome support will help our Westwave project put Ireland at the forefront of innovative technologies and job creation in the green energy sector. The level of commitment by SEAI is an indicator of the true determination to develop the potential of Ireland's indigenous energy resources".
Brian Motherway, Chief Operations Officer at SEAI said; "Ocean energy presents significant opportunities for Ireland, given that we have the best resource in Europe. However, we need the technologies to harness it and we need to seed the early stage activities that will build an industry cluster in this country".
"SEAI's ocean energy prototype fund provides the much needed support for industry to research and develop these new technologies and systems that will have the potential to compete in a global market. We must find ways to capture ocean energy cheaply if we are to improve Ireland's energy security and switch to clean carbon free energy sources. Any Irish company leading the way in this work is helping Ireland to build a new manufacturing and service sector, and assisting in creating a more sustainable energy future," he added.
Notes to Editor:
The Westwave Project aims to develop the first wave energy project in Ireland by 2015 by generating an initial 5MW of clean renewable electricity from the plentiful wave energy resource available off the west coast of Ireland. Westwave is a collaborative project led by ESB in conjunction with a number of wave energy technology partners including Irish technology developers Wavebob and Ocean Energy, and Scottish technology developers Aquamarine Power and Pelamis Wave Power.
The project will be considered for funding under the EU's NER300 fund, alongside support under the Republic of Ireland's Renewable Energy Feed-In Tariff (REFIT) for wave energy and domestic grant funding. The project is in line with ESB's strategy to develop electricity from ocean energy and the Irish Government's strategy to generate 500MW from ocean energy by 2020.
ESB was awarded Foreshore Exploration Licenses for the Westwave Project by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government (DECLG). These licenses permit ESB to conduct marine surveys and resource measurements at two locations, Killard Point, Co. Clare and the Achill Area, Co. Mayo. These sites were identified following a detailed selection process based on mapping studies, site testing, environmental considerations and stakeholder feedback.
Further information can be found at the project's website: www.westwave.ie
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