Jan 24 2011
SEAI has entered into a funding agreement with Carnegie Wave Energy (CETO), an Australian Renewable Energy company.
The 5 MW project would be managed by its Irish Subsidiary, CETO Wave Energy Ireland. The total funding for this project is €150,000 and would be funded by both SEAI and Carnegie on an equal basis for evaluating the potential wave sites and for utilizing the CETO Technology in Ireland and also for the development of a conceptual design, which is site specific. This forms Phase one of a detailed design for the 5 MW commercial project in the Irish waters.
Carnegie has revealed that RPS Consulting Engineers have been appointed to carry out the feasibility study. RPS formerly known as Kirk McClure Morton has the experience of having worked on several tidal and wave development projects in North America and Europe.
Kieran O’Brien, who is Carnegie’s Director of European business developments based in Dublin, remarked that the formal agreement with SEAI for the funding of the project would permit them to start a comprehensive and detailed site assessment and develop the design for the Irish commercial demonstration project. He has also mentioned that the Irish Government is supporting the ocean energy development by offering a grant for the Research, development and ocean energy deployment. It has set up a feed-in tariff of €220 per MW for ocean energy. Simultaneously, another joint venture has been planned for the development of a utility scale tidal farm on the Irish Coasts between Open Hydro and Bord Gais Energy.