ENVIRONMENT WATCH: New research may put us on crest of a wave
Credit: File photo by Ted Creedon
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Wednesday March 10 2010
THE Ocean Energy Development Unit (OEDU) of Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has deployed a weather buoy off the coast of North Mayo to monitor wave and weather conditions. It is hoped this will lead future development of wave energy schemes off the coast.
The buoy which is 10km off Annagh Head on the Atlantic coast of the Mullet Peninsula will transmit information collected via satellite link to the OEDU at the civic offices in Belmullet.
This information is the first of its kind available in Ireland and will facilitate the development of a full scale wave energy test site off the coast of North Mayo.
SEI is working to accelerate the deployment of ocean energy in Ireland and as more full scale wave energy devices are designed and developed there is an increasing demand for a suitable open ocean test facility.
Chief Executive of SEI, Professor Owen Lewis said: "With its open Atlantic wave climate and with deep water close to the coast, North Mayo is an ideal location for the harnessing of our wave energy potential. Investment in this area will be a key driver in future economic growth and job creation. There is a real opportunity for North Mayo to lead the way in this area internationally."
Let us hope that they will say the same of conditions off the Kerry coast. We have long been the victim of the force of the Atlantic storms, it would be only appropriate if we could harness the power to fulfill some of our energy needs.
