Wave farm to be established off the west coast of Ireland

The Mayo coastline may be the prime location for a commercial wave farm owned by the leading wave energy development company Wavebob Ltd.

Yesterday's announcement of the establishment a full-scale wave farm off the west coast came as Wavebob Ltd signed a research and development agreement with one of Europe's largest electricity providers, Vattenfall AB. The intention of the two companies is to collaborate on bringing the prototype Wavebob device to readiness for a wave farm by 2010.

The Irish Times reported that the "Mullet peninsula is expected to be the location for the full-scale wave energy generator." The press representative for Wavebob could not confirm the exact location to the Mayo Advertiser but did not dismiss the area as a potential site, stating "that no decision has yet been taken."

The Wavebob is the first Irish device and one of only a handful worldwide to have successfully harnessed the energy of the ocean waves. At full scale, each Wavebob will be capable of producing in excess of a megawatt; enough electricity for over 700 homes. Andrew Parish, CEO of Wavebob Ltd, intends that a full-scale Wavebob will be in operation by 2010 and that their first wave farm will be up and running soon after.

According to Mr Parish the announcement is "significant for Wavebob and provides further recognition of Ireland being an international centre of excellence in the development of ocean energy technology."

Lars Strömberg, Vattenfall's vice president of research and development, believes that Ireland's coastline holds enormous potential for the development of environmentally friendly wave farms. "Our ambition is to develop a wave energy farm in Ireland with Irish partners to help in the development of the ocean energy technology market in Ireland."

Wavebob Ltd, whose headquarters are in Kildare, has invested over €4 million in research and development over the past six years and is recognised as one of the world's leading wave energy companies.