Ireland signs deal to develop wave power and become the ‘Texas of Europe’

Tonn Energy, a joint venture between Vattenfall and Wavebob, an Irish wave farm development firm, has been formed to carry out the work.

Tonn Energy is among the first commercial wave power development companies in Ireland. Work will now begin on the planning, installation, operation and maintenance of pre-commercial devices at the national wave energy test site at Belmullet in County Mayo. Success there would position Tonn Energy to consider future plans to develop 250MW of generating capacity elsewhere around Ireland, a figure which would represent half of the government’s published targets for 2020.

The Irish Government has set out plans to develop the country’s ocean resources in its Ocean Energy Strategy, which aims to position Ireland at the forefront in the development of full-scale, commercially viable ocean wave energy generating facilities.

Tonn’s immediate focus will be to carry out R&D on a site being planned by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), which is currently making substantial investments in the infrastructure at Belmullet, on the northwest coast. The test site is one of the key elements of the Ocean Energy Strategy, and Tonn Energy is one of the first companies to collaborate with SEI on this project.

Göran Dandanell, Director and Head of Business Development for Vattenfall UK and Ireland, said “Our long term goal is to halve the emissions per produced unit of energy by 2030, compared to 1990 levels, and to be emission neutral by 2050.”

“With its magnificent ocean wave resource and commitment by the government, Ireland has become a focal point for the development of commercial ocean wave energy.”

Harvey Appelbe, Project Director for Tonn Energy, said, “Because the country has such a vast natural energy resource, and as the technology becomes proven, and the government policy and supports take effect, Ireland really can be the ‘Texas of Europe’ exporting large quantities of green electricity.”

Vattenfall AB is 100 per cent owned by the Swedish State. The group has expanded into the UK and Ireland markets, having acquired the 300MW Thanet Offshore Wind project in Kent, UK.  In 2008 Vattenfall acquired the wind power companies AMEC Wind Energy Ltd and Eclipse Energy Plc, making Vattenfall one of the biggest wind power operators in Britain.

Vattenfall CEO Lars Josefsson has lobbied heavily for a global emissions cap and a global trading system for carbon dioxide. He founded the 3C Initiative, under which 67 of the world’s biggest companies have set out the principles for creating a “low-emitting society.” He is a member of the United Nations Advisory Group on Energy and Climate Change.