The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has awarded ORPC Ireland, Ltd. funding to conduct a feasibility assessment to identify tidal energy opportunities suitable for development in the coastal waters of County Donegal, Ireland.
Through its Ocean Energy Prototype Development Fund, SEAI seeks to stimulate the development and deployment of ocean energy devices and systems.
SEAI’s CEO Brian Motherway said: “SEAI is committed to facilitating the development of new technologies and projects that will harness Ireland’s rich ocean energy resource. County Donegal has been identified as a region of high potential for tidal energy in Ireland’s Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan.”
The project will review existing resource data, evaluate grid accessibility, identify existing marine users and sensitive environmental areas, assess supply chain viability, and conduct community engagement activities.
Located in the North West region of Ireland, County Donegal is home to Killybegs, the largest fishing port in Ireland, and boasts more mainland coastline than any other county in the country (1,134 km/705 mi). ORPC Ireland’s home is the Letterkenny Institute’s business development center, known as “CoLab,” located in Letterkenny, the primary economic axis for North West Ireland.