Leading blue economy developer Simply Blue Group and Ireland's premier energy company, ESB, have joined forces in a 50:50 joint venture to establish a pioneering 5 MW wave farm array off the County Clare coast. Known as the Saoirse project and initiated by Simply Blue Group, this wave energy demonstration endeavor seeks to demonstrate the viability of harnessing wave energy in Irish waters. Pending necessary approvals and grid connections, the project is set to be completed by the mid to late 2020s.
Wave energy projects, such as Saoirse, are seen as a complementary addition to wind energy, contributing to a more stable and predictable portfolio of renewable energy sources. Ireland is estimated to possess up to 18 GW of wave energy potential along its western coastline.
The chosen technology for this venture is CorPower Ocean's wave energy converter (WEC), renowned for its high efficiency in capturing electricity from ocean waves. A full-scale demonstration of CorPower Ocean's technology is currently underway in Portugal.
Sam Roch Perks, Group CEO of Simply Blue Group, expressed the significance of this collaboration with ESB, stating, “We have been developing Saoirse as a concept for several years, and to enter this joint venture with ESB means we can advance this project at the necessary pace. We believe the CorPower device represents the best-suited technology for this exciting project, which will mark a world first in wave energy and help Ireland tap into its wave power potential.”
Jim Dollard, ESB Executive Director for Generation & Trading, highlighted ESB's experience in wave energy through the WestWave project and the opportunity to leverage those insights in partnership with Simply Blue Group. He noted that while wave energy conversion technologies are in the early stages, initiatives like Saoirse are a significant stride toward achieving utility-scale electricity generation from the oceans.
Patrik Möller, CEO of CorPower Ocean, expressed enthusiasm about ESB joining the Saoirse project, emphasizing the potential of wave energy in contributing to Ireland's net-zero targets and clean energy goals.
The Saoirse project has secured pre-selection for funding under the European Commission's Innovation Fund program in its third call for projects. The joint venture will now engage in negotiations to finalize a grant agreement for the project over the coming months.
