Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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27. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources noting the lack of progress during 2014 reported by Westwave to the Marine Renewable Energy Industry conference in which he participated, his views that the Westwave strategy of dependence on multinational and Irish private developers - with claimed technical readiness level of 7-9 to deploy devices at the site off the County Clare coast has not worked; and if he will now review the potential of Irish wave energy developers who have received Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland grant funding, have demonstrated proof of concept, are at TRL level 2-3 and consider whether the Government should buy the useful IP of these devices and direct the ESB to develop the most promising TRL level suitable for deployment at Westwave site. [10230/15]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Wave and tidal energy is still at the research, development and demonstration stage globally, and while promising experimental devices have been developed, much research, development and demonstration is required to bring wave energy technology to commercial viability.

Policy action across a range of areas is required to support developers in bringing ocean energy devices from prototype to full scale commerciality. This action is being taken in the context of the implementation of the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP) 2014, which sets out Government policy in relation to the sustainable development of Ireland’s abundant offshore renewable energy resource.

Exchequer support for ocean research, development and demonstration has been provided to the sector in recent years and is being increased under the OREDP. In total, the Department has allocated €26.3 million for ocean energy for the period 2013 to 2016. This funding supports, inter alia, the Prototype Development Fund operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. This fund provides grant aid for the development of prototype ocean energy devices and in line with the approach taken internationally, the emphasis is on industry led projects as the best way of supporting innovation.

Options for an additional €30 million capital funding in the years 2016 to 2018 are being discussed cross-departmentally. This funding is expected to facilitate innovative projects, including an ESB led project called Westwave, that can meet certain compliance criteria.

The Westwave project, which is located off the County Clare coast and was discssed at the MRIA conference on 6 February, aims to make a significant contribution to the international development of wave energy technology. The Department understands from the ESB that, despite some delays in 2014, the project is progressing well, with a consenting application due for submission in mid-2015. While some technology companies have experienced difficulties in recent times, others are progressing and ESB is maintaining an active dialogue with the industry with a view to Westwave deployment .