SourceIrish company claims wave power success
A prototype wave energy converter has begun harnessing electricity from Atlantic waves off the west coast of Ireland, the Wavebob company said on Tuesday.
A "Wavebob" floating buoy device that automatically adjusts to the size of the waves to maximise the amount of power it produces is undergoing trials off Spiddal, County Galway.
"This is a giant leap forward for renewable energy production in Ireland," said Wavebob chief executive Andrew Parish.
"As an island in the middle of the energetic Atlantic Ocean, Ireland can be to wave-energy what Saudi Arabia is to oil.
"The more we exploit this unlimited natural resource, the better it will be, not just for the global environment, but also for the Irish consumer's pocket," he said.
The quarter-scale prototype device involved in the trials is not connected to the national grid.
At full scale, each Wavebob device will be capable of producing in excess of a megawatt -- enough electricity for 1,000 homes.
Part of the strategy of Ireland's Energy Minister, Eamon Ryan, a member of the Green Party, is to have 500 megawatts of ocean energy installed by 2020.
Wavebob has invested more than 4.0 million euros (5.7 million dollars) in research and development over the past six years.
The company's partners include Chevron, Georgia Tech Research Institute, University College Cork and National University of Ireland, Maynooth.
This is great, I seriously hope that they get a move on with deploying these things.
8)
