| sh are currently pursuing energy independence and | | | | institutes, and government personnel in Ireland have |
| the further development of their robust economy | | | | been saying that the development of ocean wave |
| through the implementation of research and | | | | energy technology would be a true driving force for |
| development into alternative sources of energy. At | | | | the nation's economy and one which would greatly |
| the time of this writing, nearly 90% of Ireland's | | | | help to make Ireland energy independent. A test site |
| energy needs are met through importationthe | | | | for developing wave ocean energy has been |
| highest level of foreign product dependence in the | | | | established in Ireland, less than two miles off the |
| nation's entire history. This is a very precarious | | | | coast of An Spideal in County Galway Bay. This |
| situation to be in, and the need for developing | | | | experimental ocean wave harnessing site is known as |
| alternative energy sources in Ireland is sharply | | | | Wavebob. The most energetic waves in the |
| perceived. Ireland also seeks to conserve and | | | | world are located off the West coast of Ireland, |
| rejuvenate its naturally beautiful environment and to | | | | says Ireland's Marine Institute CEO Dr. Peter |
| clean up its atmosphere through the implementation | | | | Heffernan. The technology to harness the power of |
| of alternative energy supplies. The European Union | | | | the ocean is only just emerging and Ireland has the |
| has mandated a reduction in sulphuric and nitric oxide | | | | chance to become a market leader in this sector. |
| emissions for all member nations. Green energy is | | | | David Taylor, CEO of the Sustainable Energy |
| needed to meet these objectives. Hydroelectric | | | | Initiative,or SEI, tells us that SEI is committed to |
| power has been utilized in Ireland in some areas since | | | | innovation in the renewable energy sector. Wave |
| the 1930s and has been very effective; however, | | | | energy is a promising new renewable energy |
| more of it needs to be installed. Ireland also needs to | | | | resource which could one day make a significant |
| harness the wave power of the Atlantic Ocean, | | | | contribution to Ireland's electricity generation mix |
| which on its west coast is a potential energy supply | | | | thereby further reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. |
| that the nation has in great store. | | | | Padraig Walshe, the president of the Irish Farmers |
| Ireland actually has the potential to become an | | | | Association, tells us that with the closure of the |
| energy exporter, rather than a nation so heavily | | | | sugar beet industry, an increasing amount of Irish land |
| dependent on energy importation. This energy | | | | resources will become available for alternative uses, |
| potential resides in Ireland's substantial wind, ocean | | | | including bioenergy production. Today, renewable |
| wave, and biomass-producing alternative energy | | | | energy sources meet only 2% of Ireland’s |
| potentials. Ireland could become a supplier of ocean | | | | total energy consumption. From a farming |
| wave-produced electricity and biomass-fueled energy | | | | perspective, growing energy crops will only have a |
| to continental Europe and, as they say, make a | | | | viable future if they provide an economic return on |
| killing. At the present time, Ireland is most closely | | | | investment and labour, and if the prospect of this |
| focused on reaching the point where it can produce | | | | return is secure into the future. Currently the return |
| 15% of the nation's electricity through wind farms, | | | | from energy crops is marginal and is hampering the |
| which the government has set as a national objective | | | | development of the industry. |
| to be reached by 2010. But universities, research | | | | |