The announcement brings Ireland another step closer to capturing our great ocean energy resource for electricity generation. In time, this will further reduce our reliance on costly fossil fuel imports, according to Dr Brian Motherway, CEO of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
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SEAI has been working closely with ESB for the past three years on the ESB Westwave project which represents one of the most significant efforts worldwide to establish a pre-commercial array of wave energy converters. The full environmental impact assessment for the site, to be carried out in 2014 and 2015, is essential to advance the project and eventually connect power generated from the wave energy converters to the existing electricity network.
Commenting Dr Motherway said: "Ocean energy is a great opportunity for Ireland, not only to exploit a tremendous source of clean energy but also to develop a sizeable enterprise sector. We already have world leading technology expertise and some excellent test facilities in Ireland. ESB Westwave will bring ocean energy in Ireland to another level by enabling us to bring renewable electricity ashore from the waves off County Clare."
(CD/MH)
