The study supported by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) analyses the issues, draws conclusions and makes recommendations about challenges which must be tackled if ocean energy is to develop at scale from around 2030.
The Irish tidal resource is concentrated off the north-east coast in County Antrim and can be readily supported from Belfast and other ports in the locality, it is stated in the study. Ireland’s wave energy resource is located off the west coast.
The real issue lies with wave energy developments at scale off the west coast, particularly off the north-west coast, and the study suggests that the challenge will be heightened by possible offshore wind developments in the same area.
The means to support the developments at scale further north presents a problem as well, particularly off Mayo, where port facilities are very limited, according to the study.
The Marine Renewables Industry Association has concluded that existing port facilities are sufficient to support the next stage of ocean energy – deployment of experimental devices and small arrays – but believes too that the ‘western gap’ identified above must be tackled in time,or it will have to be supported from the United Kingdom at a cost to Irish jobs and income creation.
The Association believes that government must take an open-minded view of how to finance ports’ developments to support the ocean energy opportunities that should come to maturity in the next fifteen years – a short time frame in this context – and may have to support the development of a new west coast port.
The Marine Renewables Industry Association recommends that steps should be taken as soon as possible to start planning at least minimum facilities to support ocean energy at a port location in Mayo, and also a review of ports policy, perhaps specifically in regard to the marine renewables industry, should take place no later than 2020.
You can read the full study here .
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Image: SEAI/Illustration