NEW PROPOSALS to develop the State’s marine energy potential are to be finalised by the end of the year, Minister for Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte said yesterday.
However, Mr Rabbitte warned that a major international conference of ocean energy developers “costs will need to fall rapidly” if there is to be widespread acceptance of wave and tidal energy in the electricity market.
More than 900 delegates from 32 countries are attending the three-day conference in Dublin’s Convention centre. They were welcomed to the city yesterday by a flag-bedecked LÉ Róisín and marine research vessels the Celtic Voyager and the Keary, which were all moored in the Liffey.
Mr Rabbitte said the Government had prioritised ocean energy in discussions with the EU, and would bring forward a foreshore Bill by the end of the year to streamline foreshore licensing.
He said it was hoped to finalise the Government’s new Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan by the end of this year.
In addition, he said a memorandum of understanding on offshore energy was close to being signed with his UK counterpart, secretary of State Ed Davies, while talks were continuing on the Isles project to link these islands with an undersea grid.
Mr Rabbitte also vowed to use Ireland’s presidency of the EU to “concentrate” a ministerial council meeting on renewable energy and the potential of marine energy.
