Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 January 2014
468. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding Irish research into tidal energy generation; the State funding in this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3970/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraTidal and wave energy technologies are commonly referred to under the term ocean energy. Through its Ocean Energy Programme the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has conducted wave and tidal resource studies to examine the energy yield from these technologies at their current stage of development. The largest accessible tidal resource occurs around the Antrim coast while the largest accessible wave energy resource lies around the western and southern coasts of Ireland. Some small isolated locations of good tidal flows occur around the west coast of Ireland. However, it is considered that when combined they would yield smaller amounts of energy compared to the offshore wave and wind resources. It should also be noted that high waves approaching the western coast can limit the use of tidal turbines which are more suited to shallower depths. Given the fact that the wholesale electricity markets of Ireland and Northern Ireland are operated as Single Electricity Market (SEM), there may be scope for regional cooperation on the development of tidal technologies. Regional collaboration on the development of the offshore renewable energy will be an action area in the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP), which I will be publishing shortly.
Since 2005, the SEAI has provided almost €3m in grant support for tidal energy research and development projects. The majority of this funding has gone to Open Hydro, which has since established itself as one of the leading tidal energy technologies worldwide. The company has built a manufacturing facility at Greenore in County Louth to supply tidal turbines.
