Vattenfall Targets Ireland's Wave Energy

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Swedish energy supplier Vattenfall AB (Stockholm, Sweden) has chosen Ireland as the location to develop commercial-scale power solutions sourced from wave energy.

Vattenfall has created joint venture company Tonn Energy (Dublin, Ireland) with established Irish wave-farm development firm Wavebob (Maynooth, Ireland). The multimillion euro venture will also be supported by the Irish government's Investment and Development Agency.

The first goal of the company will be research and development off the coast of County Mayo on the west coast. The site, being planned by Sustainable Energy Ireland (Dublin), is currently well under way with infrastructure work and will form the hub of Ireland's Ocean Energy Programme. Ireland wants to become a leader in ocean energy technology, and the government has announced that it wants 500 megawatts (MW) of ocean-derived energy connected to the national grid by 2020. Tonn Energy aims to begin pre-commercial trials of a full-size Wavebob energy converter by 2013, followed by commercial electricity generation by 2015.

"I have articulated my intention that Ireland, with its unparalleled ocean resources, should become a world leader in renewable energy," Ireland's Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan, said at the launch of Tonn Energy. "The participation of a major power utility like Vattenfall, together with the commitment of its Irish partners--which I applaud--in Ireland's energy programme, marks a further step toward realising the considerable opportunities represented by our ocean-wave energy resource."

Vattenfall is one of Europe's most vocal energy giants when it comes to supporting carbon-neutral energy production and claims that it will be carbon neutral by 2050. For additional information, see related news items from January 19, 2009 - Vattenfall Pursues Renewable Strategies and Cleans Up Nuclear Communications.

Göran Dandanell, director and head of business development for Vattenfall UK, said: "Vattenfall's 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. We believe each region has its own unique renewable, clean-energy solution. 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. With such a great opportunity to produce clean energy, we are very happy to be a key partner in Ireland's ocean energy programme."

Wavebob and Vattenfall have previously cooperated on the purchase of Pandion Limited (Dublin), which has applied for ocean sites on the west coast of Ireland that could generate up to 250 MW. Wavebob has had a number of 30-kilowatt devices generating power in Galway Bay since 2006 and is in the process of delivering a commercial-scale project in Portugal.

Harvey Appelbe, project director for Tonn Energy, commented: "We have a vast ocean resource here. Today is about getting out into the water and harvesting it. It is about starting the programme of engineering work. This is a long-term commitment [from Vattenfall]."

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