SEI announces funding for Irish ocean energy companies

SEI chief executive Owen Lewis

Ten Irish companies developing ocean energy technologies will share e4.3millon in funding from Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), the national energy authority announced yesterday.

The funding is aimed at enabling the companies to take their proposals and prototypes to the next stage of development. Participating companies include Wavebob Ltd and Ocean Energy, who have been trialling their prototype wave energy converters in Galway Bay, and OpenHydro, who are developing a tidal turbine system.

Other companies receiving assistance in conducting research and feasibility studies include Technology from Ideas Ltd, based in Waterford, and the Marine Renewables Industry Association. Individual company grants range from e20,000 to e2 million.

Professor Owen Lewis, chief executive of SEI, said: “The Atlantic ocean provides an untapped source of renewable energy and gives Ireland a unique advantage in the development of ocean energy technology. It is essential that we invest in companies that are seeking to make this technology a reality and help make Ireland a centre for excellence in ocean technology. “

“The Government has set a target of having 500MW of ocean energy connected to the national grid by 2020.  SEI’s ocean energy development unit is working closely with development companies to test their technologies and make them not only operationally but also commercially viable.  Today’s commitment takes us a step closer to achieving this aim and developing Ireland as a global leader in this field."

James Ives of tidal technology firm OpenHydro said: “We are absolutely delighted to be awarded such a significant grant. The grant will support OpenHydro in the design and development of our next generation 16m Open-Centre Turbine, Subsea Base and Installation Barge."
 
The ten companies awarded funding are:

Key Engineering Services Ltd - Industry led feasibility study of wave energy device

Cyan Technologies Ltd - Concept Testing of the CyanWave Novel Wave Energy Converter

Technology from Ideas Ltd - TFI Wave Protector

Waveberg Ireland - Extended Tank Testing of the Waveberg  1:32 scale model

Ocean Energy Ltd - OE Buoy Research Project, Phase 3b, Finalisation of Research and Testing of Current Prototype (quarter scale)

OpenHydro Group Ltd - Design & Development of 16m Open-Centre Turbine System

Martin Houston and Sons Ltd - Houston Wave Energy Converter Proof of Concept Study

Wavebob Ltd - Wavebob ADM3 and ADM4 staged and combined wave-to-wire wave energy conversion demonstrated with linear generation power take-off (PTO)

Sea Power Ltd- Development of C pump

Marine Renewables Industry Association Ltd - Provision of a policy framework for Marine Renewables/ Ocean Energy (Wave and Tide)

Jospa Ltd- Phase 1 - Validation Model and Concept Testing