Major R&D initiative by Vattenfall in Clean-tech Energy

We are responding to the massive opportunity that Ireland has. Because the country has such a vast natural energy resource, and as the technology becomes proven, and the Government policy and supports take effect, Ireland really can be the ‘Texas of Europe’ exporting large quantities of green electricity. Tonn Energy will work with the Irish agencies to make this happen.

Harvey Appelbe, Project Director for Tonn Energy

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan TD, today (Monday, 19th October 2009) announced that Vattenfall, one of Europe’s largest electrical utilities, in recognising the urgent need to cut global greenhouse gas emissions has selected Ireland for an exciting initiative to develop ocean wave energy into a viable, clean and valuable new energy source in Ireland’s renewable energy portfolio.  This investment is being supported by Government through IDA Ireland

Tonn Energy, a joint venture between Vattenfall and Wavebob, an Irish wave farm development firm, has been formed to carry out this programme of work. In the long term this could position Ireland as a net exporter of green energy, utilising its massive natural ocean wave resource, and could hold significant benefits for the West of Ireland through subsequent investment and employment.

Tonn Energy is among the first commercial wave power development companies in Ireland. It combines the major backing and expertise of one of Europe’s large power utilities, Vattenfall, with innovative wave energy conversion technology company, Wavebob. Work will now begin on the planning, installation, operation and maintenance of pre-commercial devices at the national wave energy test site at Belmullet in Co. Mayo. Success there would enable Tonn Energy to consider future plans to achieve 250MW of generating capacity elsewhere around Ireland, which would represent half of the Government’s published targets for 2020.

Minister Ryan, who joined with Harvey Appelbe, Project Director for Tonn Energy, in making the announcement, said “I have articulated my intention that Ireland should become a world leader in renewable energy. We have unparalleled ocean resources. The aim of this Government’s Ocean Energy Strategy is to position Ireland at the fore-front in the development of full-scale, commercially viable ocean wave energy generating facilities. 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.”

Tonn’s immediate focus will be Research and Development on a site off the coast of Co. Mayo, being planned by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), which is currently making substantial investments in the necessary infrastructure at Belmullet, Co. Mayo, and whose involvement is crucial to the success of the project.  The test site is one of the key elements of the Government’s Ocean Energy Programme. Tonn Energy is one of the first industry organisations collaborating with SEI on this project. SEI is already supported in developing the facility by ESBI. Other partners whose collaboration is also critical, are the Government (through the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources), IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Údarás na Gaeltachta and Mayo Co. Co.

Göran Dandanell, Director and Head of Business Development for Vattenfall UK and Ireland, said “Our 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.”

Harvey Appelbe, Project Director for Tonn Energy, said “We are responding to the massive opportunity that Ireland has. Because the country has such a vast natural energy resource, and as the technology becomes proven, and the Government policy and supports take effect, Ireland really can be the ‘Texas of Europe’ exporting large quantities of green electricity. Tonn Energy will work with the Irish agencies to make this happen.”

Barry O’Leary, CEO of IDA Ireland, said “Ireland prides itself on its capacity for innovation and this investment is an excellent example of the kind of initiative which will further enhance our status worldwide as a location for leading-edge Research, Development and Innovation. It is in line with the Ocean Energy strategy, part of the Government’s ‘Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation’, which has the objective of establishing Ireland as a leading Ocean Energy Centre, with a target of having 500MW of OE-generated electricity installed by 2020. This new energy source has the potential to be a significant contributor to furthering Ireland’s competitiveness and represents an emerging opportunity for major economic benefit, through new investment and employment.”  

Owen Lewis, CEO of Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), which was set up by the Government in 2002 as Ireland’s national energy authority to promote and assist the development of sustainable energy, said “The building of significant industry partnerships, exemplified by today’s announcement, is critical to our achieving the objectives of the Ocean Energy Strategy. SEI is working on the range of measures that are required to enable this sector to develop, including completing the Strategic Environmental Assessment, strengthening our research capability in wave energy, providing grant support to ocean energy companies and developing framework studies to guide investment, infrastructure and implementation decisions for large scale ocean energy projects.”

About Vattenfall
Vattenfall, a Swedish public limited company, generates, distributes and sells electricity and heat to customers throughout Europe.  It is one of Europe’s largest electrical utilities generating 160TWh and consolidated sales in 2008 of approximately €17 billion. Operations today are conducted in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Poland, The Netherlands, UK and now Ireland. The Group has 38,000 employees and the Parent Company, Vattenfall AB is 100% owned by the Swedish State. The group has expanded into the UK and Ireland markets and having acquired the 300MW Thanet Offshore Wind project in Kent. In 2008 Vattenfall acquired the wind power companies AMEC Wind Energy Ltd and Eclipse Energy Plc making Vattenfall one of the biggest wind power operators in Britain.
 
Vattenfall CEO Lars G Josefsson lobbies heavily for a global emissions cap and a global trading system for carbon dioxide. He has founded the 3C Initiative, under which 67 of the world's biggest companies have agreed on principles to create a "low-emitting society". In June 2009 Josefsson accepted an invitation from the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-moon, to join his Advisory Group on Energy and Climate Change.

About Wavebob
Wavebob Ltd is an indigenous Irish technology firm, founded in 1999, headquartered in Ireland holding international patents for wave energy conversion technology.
Wavebob Ltd has produced the first Irish device and one of only a handful worldwide to have successfully harnessed the energy of the ocean waves. The prototype of ‘Wavebob’ was installed on the Marine Institute’s test site at Spiddle, Co.Galway in March 2006. It was the first device to produce electricity in Irish waters, achieving 3000 hours of operation.

Media contacts –

Tonn Energy - Éadaoin Ní Mhonghaile  Tel: 087 8519913

Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) – Sarah Ryan, Drury Communications
Tel: (01) 260 5000 / 087 6767452

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources -

IDA Ireland –  Brendan Kenny, Press & PR,  Tel: 087 9036126