Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 6 and 48 together.

The Government is giving high priority to supporting the development of Ireland's ocean energy potential. Not only will ocean energy contribute to Ireland's renewable energy targets, it has considerable potential for inward investment and enterprise activity in support of economic renewal.

The multi-annual ocean energy package, which I launched last year, involves a number of initiatives, namely, the establishment of the ocean energy development unit based with Sustainable Energy Ireland, the creation of a state-of-the-art national ocean energy facility at University College Cork; the development of a grid-connected wave energy test site off the west coast; the establishment of an ocean energy prototype fund; and the introduction of a new feed-in tariff under the REFIT scheme for wave and tidal technologies of €220 per megawatt hour. I am pleased to confirm that all initiatives under the package are well under way and are being implemented with the full involvement of stakeholders. Some €7 million has been allocated by the ocean energy development unit to the ocean energy package in 2009. This is in line with projected expenditure this year, subject to obtaining Department of Finance sanction on a quarterly basis.

The ocean energy development unit has launched the industry prototype development fund. To date, 20 expressions of interest, leading to seven firm proposals, have been submitted by developers. Contracts for the funding of three projects will be issued within the coming weeks. Four proposals are currently the subject of technical and business evaluation. Funding decisions will be made in light of these evaluations. Expenditure on the prototype fund in 2009 is projected to be at least €4 million.

The Government has set a target of 500 MW from ocean energy by 2020. At present, there are no ocean energy devices connected to the grid in Ireland. This technology is still very much in early development. Current assessments show that across the globe only a small number of test projects, totalling under 10 MW in size, are connected to the grid. The ocean energy development unit, in partnership with the Marine Institute and ESBI, undertook an extensive process over the past two years to identify the most suitable wave energy test site. The development partnership will now develop a grid-connected site off Annagh, County Mayo. This will test operational pre-commercial wave energy devices directly connected to the electricity network.

The project team is undertaking detailed technical consultation with prospective industrial users of the facility. It is also completing engineering specifications and progressing onshore and offshore lease applications, network connection and necessary onshore works. Expenditure on the project this year is expected to be at least €2 million. The project is scheduled to be completed by 2010, subject to external factors including offshore sea conditions during the development phase.

The ocean energy development unit is also working with UCC to upgrade the existing wave basin located at the hydraulics and maritime research centre, HMRC, at UCC. This wave basin provides research and testing facilities for a variety of offshore purposes. The upgrade of the existing facility will include new wave generating equipment, new experimental test rigs, improved workshop facilities and advanced computer solutions for numerical analysis and modelling. Expenditure on the facility in the current year is estimated at €1 million. Proposals for a new national ocean test facility, NOTF, will be developed by 2012 as part of a proposed maritime and energy research centre to be located adjacent to the National Maritime College at Ringaskiddy.

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