Written answers

Thursday, 6 April 2006

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Alternative Energy Projects

5:00 am

Photo of Emmet StaggEmmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 111: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will report on the recent initiatives in the development of wave renewable technologies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13638/06]

Photo of John BrowneJohn Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The development of ocean energy possibilities is currently being progressed by Sustainable Energy Ireland, SEI, and the Marine Institute.

The Marine Institute and SEI, in conjunction with the Department, recently opened a wave energy test site a mile and a half off the coast of Spiddal, County Galway. The 37-hectare site will be open to entrepreneurs and engineers to test prototype ocean energy generators. The first wave energy generator, "WaveBob", has been deployed on the Spiddal site. The Minister intends to publish an ocean energy strategy shortly, which will set out a development path for ocean energy technology in Ireland.

SEI and the Marine Institute are currently supporting a number of ocean energy technologies including the wavebob, ocean energy buoy, the McCabe wave pump, wave tank and air turbine design, and are providing research and development support for three separate wave energy device developers, including support for wave tank testing of model devices. Other projects and studies funded to date include: assessment of the tidal energy resource; assessment of the wave energy resource; development of a quarter scale test site in Galway Bay; assessment of economic benefits from development of ocean energy; and participation in IEA ocean energy implementing agreement.

In addition to the ocean energy strategy, I will be publishing an energy policy consultation paper by mid-year which will set out medium and long-term perspectives for national energy policy and which will take account of the considerable and complex challenges for Irish energy policy.

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