Galway’s Marine Institute is leading the push for renewable energy, investing €1.4 million in seven new projects.
The funding was awarded to innovative projects advancing renewable energy in the marine sector being carried out by homegrown companies and university partners.
Dr Peter Heffernan, CEO of the Marine Institute, said the diversity of projects named here shows “the innovation and expertise that we are developing in Ireland in this sector.”
Gavin & Doherty GeoSolutions is being awarded €199,957 over 2 years for their research project in partnership with UCC.
The are conducting an analysis of the Irish seabed to model any future changes to it that could affect offshore wind developments.
Two of the other projects awarded grants are advancing different technologies for floating energy platforms.
Solar Marine Energy will receive €195,465 over 2 years, also in partnership with UCC, to create a floating solar platform.
The goal of this is to progress how solar energy to power an electrolysis unit to produce Hydrogen in an electro-fuel form while using battery storage to release electricity as and when required.
The Eureka-Sea Wind project proposed by Marine Materials Ireland Ltd (MMI) will also receive €199,816 to to develop reliable and efficient floating wind turbines with new tech and designs to reduce cost and weight.
Resolute Marine Ltd has already developed a successful Oscillating Wave Surge Converter (OWSC) flap system for wave powered electricity.
Now with a funding boost of €199,955, Resolute Marine will bring the OWSC from concept to robust design that can be easily used in developing countries.
Subsea Micropiles is being awarded €199,902 for research on the design and temporary installation of two demonstration micropile anchors.
Micropiles are undersea foundations used to create stable bases for offshore wind farms or other installations.
Using robotically-installed micropiles represents important innovation and potential cost saving for marine renewable energy projects.
Exceedence and TfI Marine are making the best of both worlds by using renewable technologies to help fish farmers get off diesel dependence.
The Inline Gator system, awarded will harness the natural power of the waves by converting the motion of the fish cage into electricity to sustain the aquaculture system.
They have been awarded €199,532 in funding to research and develop this renewable energy system.
And lastly W1DA Experience Ltd is also being awarded €198,763 in funding for the Marine EcoPowa Project in partnership with University of Southampton and UCC.
The project aims to create a new generation of medium power environmentally–friendly marine propulsion and energy regeneration systems to replace outboard motors.
The potential financial benefits to boat users in Ireland are significant, potentially costing less than half that of petrol and diesel motors over a ten-year lifetime.
