The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and Apple have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote the development of ocean energy in Ireland.
Under the MoU, Apple has committed a €1 million fund that will help developers who receive an SEAI grant to test their ocean energy prototypes in the Galway Bay Ocean Energy Test Site.
Funding for the wave energy device testing is provided through SEAI’s Ocean Energy Prototype Development Fund.
The €1 million Apple fund will provide up to €250,000 each year for four years commencing in 2016.
Ocean energy developers who successfully qualify for an SEAI grant to test their devices in Galway Bay can apply for additional support through the fund.
Welcoming the announcement, Alex White , Ireland’s Energy Minister, said: “I warmly welcome this agreement between Apple and SEAI to help harness this renewable source of energy. “This is an excellent achievement for Ireland and shows that when it comes to ocean energy development, Ireland is definitely open for business.”
Lisa Jackson , Apple’s Vice President of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives, added: “We’re excited by the potential of ocean energy to someday serve as a source of clean power for the data centre we are building in Athenry, County Galway. We are deeply committed to powering all our facilities with 100 percent renewable energy and believe investing in innovative projects will make reaching our goal easier.”
SEAI’s Ocean Energy Prototype Development Fund was launched in 2009 and aims to accelerate the sector through supporting the research, development, testing and deployment of wave and tidal energy devices.
SEAI is Ireland’s national energy agency that aims to transform Ireland into a society based on sustainable energy structures, technologies and practices.
Image: SEAI