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Tonn Energy is an Irish wave farm development company, with considerable backing and specialist expertise from Vattenfall and Bord Gáis, working with local communities and agencies, such as ESB International, to transform wave energy in Ireland from a technical innovation into a viable new marine industry.
Tonn Energy's vision is that by tapping the massive potential represented by wave energy, Ireland can be a net exporter of clean energy, generating
jobs and prosperity while replacing dirty power production.
Tonn Energy is working with Irish organisations to bring about the critical enablers, such as technology, consenting, grid, export markets, needed for utility scale wave farms to generate jobs and prosperity in Ireland.
©Tonn Energy 2009. All human and animal rights carefully observed, reserved and preserved.
Environment:
The Western Sea Board of Ireland has a significant opportunity to develop the capacity to harvest wave energy off its coast as a clean, renewable resource. The potential represented by these efforts is so promising that one day plants on the west coast of Europe could theoretically replace all coal and nuclear power plants in the whole of western Europe, resulting in a massive net reduction of impacts on the environment.
Even so, in order for wave energy to develop and fulfil these assumptions, we must reduce the uncertainties about the technology's effects on the marine environment. Tonn Energy are undertaking a program of work to assess the potential environmental impacts of wave energy, determine what is known and unknown, then fill the gaps. The program includes a rigorous set of scientific studies to address potential concerns. Some of these have been performed in collaboration with Ireland's (SEAI's) Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site (AMETS) project, underway in Belmullet, Co.Mayo, Ireland.
Supply Chain:
Wave energy conversion devices, such as Wavebob, are now emerging from R&D as a technically feasible proposition. However, a great deal of work remains to be done to achieve safe and operationally feasible installations off the west coast of Ireland, before larger commercially viable installations can be considered.
Tonn Energy is working to overcome the numerous operational issues that stand in the way of viable wave energy installations, including finer details of WEC devices and their operation, maintenance and supply chain requirements and harbour facilities for their assembly and deployment.
Irelands’ ability to grasp the opportunity represented by its massive natural wave energy resource hinges on our ability to establish the specialised engineering and other support capabilities need for an efficient, operational industry. Many of the base capabilities already exist in the West, arising from the strong ocean-going heritage there. Others, such as specialist vessels, ports and workforces will need to be developed.
Technology:
To harvest the benefits of a rich resource, Ireland needs large quantities (100s then 1000s of devices each year) of viable wave conversion technology capable of converting power in Irealnd's aggressive wave conditions.
It is hoped that Ireland will lead the development of ocean energy technology, with companies (like Wavebob), breakthrough pilot projects (like AMETS) and early commercial wave farms. Ireland will also need to exploit technical developments from other countries, such as Scotland, to have sufficient technology to support the development possibilities.
Tonn Energy actively participates in and monitors these technical development initiatives, in Ireland, Scotland and elsewhere, to understand when, how and where there will be sufficient technology in time to supply the utility scale projects of the future.
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Grid:
Ireland's plans for wave power are massive, measured in 100s then 1000s of MW. To harvest this wealth, and export the energy to our neighbours, national grid connections and upgrades are needed.
Deliberate, careful and proactive grid planning and implementation will enable Ireland to achieve the Government’s target of 500MW by 2020. To keep Ireland in the race, and to maximise jobs and prosperity from it, Irish wave power must be able to grow up to achieve economies of scale - so that future investment is better spent in Ireland, than elsewhere.
Tonn Energy is working with other Irish organisations to identify the best approach to future wave farm planning, in order to put in place the most effective transmission grid access, in time to facilitate growth of utility scale development in the future, such that Ireland can maximise inward investment and activity.
Given the size of Ireland's massive wave resource, this work will likely include the need for subsea grid networks to ensure sufficient interconnection with the UK and Europe, not only to balance the grids, but also to provide an export market.
European Power Utility:
Vattenfall, a Swedish public limited company, generates, distributes and sells electricity and heat to customers throughout Europe. It is one of Europe’s largest electrical utilities generating 180TWh and consolidated sales €18 billion. After a period of intensive growth, operations today are conducted in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Poland, The Netherlands, UK and now Ireland. The Group has more than 40,000 employees and the Parent Company, Vattenfall AB is 100% owned by the Swedish State.
Recently, Vattenfall has developed a new strategy which will primarily focus on the markets in Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands. The UK will remain a focus area for investments in renewable power, however.
Vattenfall aims to be one of the leaders in developing environmentally sustainable energy production. The company will focus on reducing its CO2-emissions from 90 million tonnes per year presently to 65 million tonnes per year in 2020.
Irish Power Utility:
Bord Gáis Energy provides gas, electricity, dual-fuel gas/electricity and home energy services to over one million customers on the island of Ireland. The company is in the process of building a substantial electricity generation portfolio and recently completed the construction of a 445MW CCGT power plant in Whitegate Co. Cork. In late 2009 Bord Gáis Energy acquired the wind generation assets of SWS Natural Resources, comprising 179 MW of operating wind farms and 450MW of development projects that can be built out over the next five years.
In 2010, Bord Gáis acquired a stake in Tonn Energy. This deal signals a further strengthening of utility backing for Tonn Energy, as a wave farm development business. Bord Gáis intend to work closely with Vattenfall, and other utilities, through Tonn Energy toward the development of utility scale wave farms in Ireland.
Like Vattenfall, Bord Gáis are also working to diversify their energy portfolio with renewables such as ocean energy. The purchase of shares in Tonn Energy, by Bord Gáis was made from their Alternative Energy Research Fund, which was established to support the development of emerging sustainable energy sources.
Power Convertion Technology:
Wavebob Ltd is a minority shareholder in Tonn Energy, having stared the business. Wavebob Ltd is an indigenous technology firm, founded in 1999, headquartered in Ireland holding international patents for wave energy conversion technology. Wavebob Ltd has produced the first Irish device and one of only a handful worldwide to have successfully harnessed the energy of the ocean waves. The prototype of ‘Wavebob’ was installed on the Marine Institute’s test site at Spiddle, Co.Galway in March 2006. It was the first device to produce electricity in Irish waters, achieving 3000 hours of operation.
Tonn Energy is technology neutral, having relationships with numerous technology providers to evaluate their products, in order to select the best technology for wave farms in Ireland.
Address: Fitzwilliam Hall, Fitzwilliam Place.
Dublin 2, Ireland.
Tel: +353.1.669.8524
Email: info_tonnenergy.ie
Web: http://www.tonnenergy.ie
