Irish ocean energy projects receive €4.3m in grants

Marine energy development grants totalling €4.3 million have been awarded to 15 projects, by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.

The announcement was made as the authority and Enterprise Ireland host an “Ireland open for business” exhibition at the sixth International Conference for Ocean Energy in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Declan Meally, of the authority said the objective at the international conference was to show that “Ireland is open for business and is actively committed to harnessing its abundant wave, tidal and offshore wind energy resources.”

He siad the Government was dedicated to developing an indigenous ocean energy industry, which he said was “a real opportunity” to deliver future economic and societal benefits for Ireland.

“To that end, collaboration, both nationally and internationally, is key. To facilitate the development of the sector we’re very keen to explore all collaborative opportunities, where Ireland can offer its strengths in areas like test facilities, technology supports, supply chain availability and grid infrastructure,” he said.

€15 billion

With a sea area 10 times Ireland’s land mass, the market has the potential to be worth €15 billion to Ireland’s economy by 2050, the authority said.

The 15 organisations receiving funding from SEAI in 2016 are:

• BirdWatch Ireland

• Blue Power Energy Ltd

• CADFEM Ireland

• Coneng Consultancy Ltd (Trading as Waveworks)

• DP Energy Ireland Ltd

• ESB

• Frontier Engineering Group Ltd (Trading as JJ Campbell and Associates)

• GKinetic Energy Ltd

• GRSI

• New Wave Technologies Limited (Trading as Ocean Energy)

• NSAI

• ORPC Ireland

• Sea Energies

• Sea Power Ltd

• Swirl Generators Limited

• Tocardo Ireland Ltd

While in Scotland four Irish companies UCC, DP Energy, EireComposites Teo and TFI were selected as part of a €10 million Scottish project that will see the firms receive €1.5 million in EU funding for the development of a floating tidal energy device.

Further details on Ireland's ocean energy offering are available at: www.oceanenergyireland.com

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