Minister Dara Calleary welcomes Major R&D by Vattenfall in Clean-tech Energy at Belmullet
To explore Ireland’s vast ocean energy resource and the country’s future position as a net exporter of green energy
The announcement, by Minister Eamon Ryan, on Monday (19th Oct 2009), that Vattenfall, one of Europe’s largest electrical utilities, in recognising the urgent need to cut global greenhouse gas emissions has selected Ireland for an exciting initiative to develop ocean wave energy into a viable, clean and valuable new energy source in Ireland’s renewable energy portfolio. The Government through IDA Ireland is supporting this investment.
Speaking at the announcement Minister Calleary said: “I wish to acknowledge the major commitment being shown by Vattenfall and Wavebob in an initiative which could have major benefits for Mayo and Ireland in the future.”
Tonn Energy, a joint venture between Vattenfall and Wavebob, an Irish wave farm development firm, has been formed to carry out this programme of work. In the long term this could position Ireland as a net exporter of green energy, utilising its massive natural ocean wave resource, and could hold significant benefits for the West of Ireland through subsequent investment and employment.
Work will now begin on the planning, installation, operation and maintenance of pre-commercial devices at the national wave energy test site at Belmullet in Co. Mayo.
This region has a wonderful tradition of energy production and this research could bring this research to a new generation. Success in Belmullet would enable Tonn Energy to consider future plans to achieve 250MW of generating capacity elsewhere around Ireland, which would represent half of the Government’s published targets for 2020.
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.
In conclusion Minister Calleary said: “ I wish Vattenfall, Wavebob, Tonn energy and all its partners all the best with this initiative and eagerly await the results of the R&D.”
Picture with caption to follow via email.
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Note to Editor
About Vattenfall
Vattenfall, a Swedish public limited company, generates, distributes and sells electricity and heat to customers throughout Europe. It is one of Europe’s largest electrical utilities generating 160TWh and consolidated sales in 2008 of approximately ¤17 billion. Operations today are conducted in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Poland, The Netherlands, UK and now Ireland. The Group has 38,000 employees and the Parent Company, Vattenfall AB is 100% owned by the Swedish State. The group has expanded into the UK and Ireland markets and having acquired the 300MW Thanet Offshore Wind project in Kent. In 2008 Vattenfall acquired the wind power companies AMEC Wind Energy Ltd and Eclipse Energy Plc making Vattenfall one of the biggest wind power operators in Britain.
Vattenfall CEO Lars G Josefsson lobbies heavily for a global emissions cap and a global trading system for carbon dioxide. He has founded the 3C Initiative, under which 67 of the world's biggest companies have agreed on principles to create a "low-emitting society". In June 2009 Josefsson accepted an invitation from the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-moon, to join his Advisory Group on Energy and Climate Change.
About 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.
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Last modified: 19/10/2009
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