We live on an Island…
Posted : October 23, 2009 by Kieran, Category: Sustainability
As a regular visitor to the west coast of Ireland on the pursuit of catching some of the finest surf on the planet I have experienced firsthand the potential for wave generated energy in Ireland. Just so as not to confuse any of our US west coast bloggers surfing in Ireland isn’t the glamour’s Kelly Slater version you would be more accustomed too, I’m talking 5mm wetsuits, gloves & even face masks!…
Due to Ireland’s geographical location, on the downwind side of the Atlantic Ocean in the region of prevailing south-westerly winds, Ireland’s coastline is exposed to one of the most vigorous wave climates in the world. This climate gives the Irish west coast, from Malin Head to Cape Clear, among the highest coastal wave power levels in the world.
Over the last 2 years many companies/research bodies have tested wave energy technology on the SEI (Sustainable Energy Ireland) wave energy test site off the coast of Co. Galway. testing has lead to the conclusion that wave energy generation is commercially feasible, test results have shown that the Irish governments wave energy generation target of 500mW by the year 2020 is achievable. Test results show that when a single full-scale turbine is connected to the national grid it would generate sufficient power to provide electricity for over 1,200 houses per year. Apart from the obvious green benefits associated with wave generated energy the harnessing of wave energy will create a considerable amount employment in those parts of Ireland scourged by unemployment.
On a final note wave/tidal energy technology is not a new idea in Ireland as I have recently discovered, it can be traced back as far as 601A.D where tidal energy was used in a simple mechanical system to grind wheat for making bread, so I guess you could say we haven’t really come that far in the last 1400 years!
Keep the slabs coming!
Kieran
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