Ocean energy in Ireland – three things the Irish Government can do
25 May 11 - Martin McAdam, CEO
Last week the Irish Times published an article stating that
Ireland was losing out on the ocean energy race, with its Celtic
neighbour Scotland taking the lead.
As an Irishman leading a Scottish wave energy company, it pains
me to say that I agree.
Despite Ireland having a better wave resource than any other
country in Europe, my homeland is failing to capitalise on its
phenomenal ocean energy resource.
Welcome signs
There are some welcome signs - the Irish Government has
published a Draft Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan
(OREDP), which recognises the benefits a successful marine energy
sector will bring to Ireland in the medium term.
But sadly it lacks concrete, time-bound actions the government
could and should take now. Plus it fails to recognise potential for
Ireland to benefit right now from some of the 'early mover'
advantage which is currently flowing to Scotland and the rest of
the UK.
Economic benefit
As I have said before, significant benefits can accrue to host
economies long before the full commercialisation of our industry.
Aquamarine Power has already, for example, spent over £2 million
directly in the Orkney Islands economy and worked with more than 30
local businesses during the deployment of its first Oyster
device. For deployment of Oyster 2 this summer we are
spending an equivalent sum working directly with various
contractors in Orkney.
We are also spending significant sums on site investigation and
community outreach in Oregon, USA.
I would dearly love for our company to be able to invest in
Ireland, and to bring new opportunities to communities on the west
coast of Ireland.
Barriers to development
But for this to happen, Ireland must not only set out a clear
and ambitious plan: it must systematically remove barriers to
development, and it must act with a real sense of urgency.
Three things the Irish Government could do within the next 12
months:
• Schedule the publication of a consenting scheme. The plan
should set a firm date for the publication of the proposed new
consenting regime and allow for a period of consultation on what
will be both a complex and a vital piece of future governance.
• Prepare and execute an initial leasing round. The plan
should state the intention of all concerned to pursue with urgency
the work required to enable an initial leasing round to take place
in early 2012.
• Commence planning for grid connections. The provision of
grid connections is a core component of the ocean energy challenge.
To realise the huge opportunity to realise new jobs involved in
ocean energy, Ireland needs appropriate connections to the grid for
ocean energy.
Urgency is key
A sense of urgency is the key. As the ministerial foreword
to the draft OREDP states: "If we get this right, and get it right
quickly, Ireland can be at the forefront of this area
internationally."
Scotland and the rest of the UK are already at full steam ahead.
Without urgency, the opportunity for Ireland will be lost.