Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 November 2018
823. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount of funding received to date by all involved in a collaborative ocean energy project (details supplied); the amount of funding received from outside the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44929/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe WestWave project is a collaborative ocean energy project led by the ESB with the objective of accelerating the development of the ocean energy sector in Ireland. ESB is working with a number of wave energy project developers to realise this 5MW project. Since 2003, the project has received exchequer funding of almost €780,000 including funding provided since 2009 from the Prototype Development Fund. This main focus of the Prototype Development Fund is to stimulate the development and deployment of ocean energy devices and systems. This funding has supported the overall objective of the WestWave project to demonstrate that wave energy projects can be designed, consented, developed and operated in Ireland, ultimately producing electricity to the grid. The WestWave project has established a site for a generic pre-commercial wave project off the west coast of Ireland, in Killard, Co. Clare.
The Westwave project had previously secured a funding commitment in principle from the NER 300 programme in July 2014. The NER 300 programme was so-called because it is funded from the sale of 300 million emission allowances from the new entrants' reserve (NER) set up for the third phase of the EU emissions trading system (EU ETS). One of the conditions of the NER 300 programme was that projects must enter into operation within four years of the funding award. With the entry into operation they would start generating renewable energy. The date of entry into operation of individual projects was to take place between 2015 and 2018. However with wave and tidal energy being still at the research, development and demonstration stage globally the condition in relation to operational timelines has proved not appropriate for this project. Much more research is required to bring wave energy technology to commercial viability. Consequently it has not yet been possible to confirm a date for a final investment decision or operation. I am advised that the earliest date for operation based on the current view of technology is 2025. I am further advised that the project has to date received no funding from outside the state.
It is imperative that the technical solution chosen would be appropriate for the energetic wave conditions on the west coast of Ireland.
