Vattenfall drives ocean energy

A joint venture between Vattenfall and Irish wave-farm developer, Wavebob, is expected to drive development of commercial-scale ocean-wave-energy generation off the coast of Ireland.

The joint venture, named Tonn Energy, will carry out development work with support from the Irish government’s Investment and Development Agency, IDA Ireland. The group’s immediate focus will be on research and development on a site off the coast of Mayo County, being planned by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI).

Ireland's minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan, said that the news was exciting and timely for Ireland’s plans to develop viable renewable-energy sources.

‘I have articulated my intention that Ireland, with its unparalleled ocean resources, should become a world leader in renewable energy,’ said Ryan. ‘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.’