Ocean Energy Policy - still stranded!

[mollox]

ONE YEAR after a €26 million ocean energy programme was unveiled by Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan, only a fraction of the funding has been released. Dr Tony Lewis of University College Cork, has warned that Ireland will lose investors and a valuable opportunity to be at the forefront of technological development if there are further delays.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...474679571.html

The €26 million, three-year ocean energy programme was announced on January 15th, 2008 by Minister Eamon Ryan.

Mr Ryan specified that in 2008 the initiative would include allocation of €5m
- €1 million towards a national ocean energy facility in UCC
- €2 million to develop a grid-connected wave energy test site near Belmullet, Co Mayo.
- €2 million in grants under the ocean energy prototype fund to assist developers in making their devices commercial, he said.

However, despite the January launch, applications for the grant-aid scheme from industry were only invited by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources 11 months later, in November 2008, and no money was paid out in 2008.

Another example of the Greens in government – great at the announcements and the photo-opportunities, but hopeless at actually delivering the goods.

But hey, they’ll distract us with more announcements about cutting TDs allowances/expenses, rather than delivering on their core franchise. Let’s see them get rid of the ministerial Mercs and have a car-pool – for use on state business only!

[BodyofEvidence]

ONE YEAR after a €26 million ocean energy programme was unveiled by Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan, only a fraction of the funding has been released. Dr Tony Lewis of University College Cork, has warned that Ireland will lose investors and a valuable opportunity to be at the forefront of technological development if there are further delays.

Only fraction of funds for ocean energy plan released - The Irish Times - Sat, Jan 24, 2009

The €26 million, three-year ocean energy programme was announced on January 15th, 2008 by Minister Eamon Ryan.

Mr Ryan specified that in 2008 the initiative would include allocation of €5m
- €1 million towards a national ocean energy facility in UCC
- €2 million to develop a grid-connected wave energy test site near Belmullet, Co Mayo.
- €2 million in grants under the ocean energy prototype fund to assist developers in making their devices commercial, he said.

However, despite the January launch, applications for the grant-aid scheme from industry were only invited by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources 11 months later, in November 2008, and no money was paid out in 2008.

Another example of the Greens in government – great at the announcements and the photo-opportunities, but hopeless at actually delivering the goods.

But hey, they’ll distract us with more announcements about cutting TDs allowances/expenses, rather than delivering on their core franchise. Let’s see them get rid of the ministerial Mercs and have a car-pool – for use on state business only!

exactly. otherwise known as a waste of space

[myksav]

ONE YEAR after a €26 million ocean energy programme was unveiled by Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan, only a fraction of the funding has been released. Dr Tony Lewis of University College Cork, has warned that Ireland will lose investors and a valuable opportunity to be at the forefront of technological development if there are further delays.

Only fraction of funds for ocean energy plan released - The Irish Times - Sat, Jan 24, 2009

The €26 million, three-year ocean energy programme was announced on January 15th, 2008 by Minister Eamon Ryan.

Mr Ryan specified that in 2008 the initiative would include allocation of €5m
- €1 million towards a national ocean energy facility in UCC
- €2 million to develop a grid-connected wave energy test site near Belmullet, Co Mayo.
- €2 million in grants under the ocean energy prototype fund to assist developers in making their devices commercial, he said.

However, despite the January launch, applications for the grant-aid scheme from industry were only invited by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources 11 months later, in November 2008, and no money was paid out in 2008.

Another example of the Greens in government – great at the announcements and the photo-opportunities, but hopeless at actually delivering the goods.

But hey, they’ll distract us with more announcements about cutting TDs allowances/expenses, rather than delivering on their core franchise. Let’s see them get rid of the ministerial Mercs and have a car-pool – for use on state business only!

That's annoying, specially when they are pushing wind power which isn't as steady as wave.
The development curve of wind power is flattening so any improvements are smaller each time.
Wave power is still at the steep development curve and will be for a while. Forever if it isn't developed.


I keep hearing people saying 'what about when it's flat calm' and I think where do they live, The midlands or the east coast?
Go a few miles offshore on the west coast and it's up and down all the time.