Update on SEAI activities relevant to Belmullet Patricia Comiskey & Declan Meally 18th of February 2015

Introduction Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site (AMETS) Sustainable Energy Communities

Overview of activity at AMETS

What is AMETS Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site (AMETS) – Belmullet Co Mayo Test full scale pre-commercial wave energy devices in extreme open ocean conditions Will be grid connected Leases sought for 2 test sites- potential for 3.

What is AMETS Test Site A Test Site B Test Site C Test Site A: 100m water depth;16km out from Belderra Strand; 6.9 km2. Test Site A Test Area B: 50m water depth; 6km from the strand; 1.5 km2. Test site C: 25m depth Test Site B Test Site C

Why Chose Belmullet? Wave activity is World Class! 12 meter Wave

What has been done to date? Huge amount of preparation work done since 2009: Environmental Impact Assessment (www.seai.ie) Appropriate Assessment (www.seai.ie) Foreshore Lease Application (www.environ.ie) Prep work for substation Prep work for upgrade of port facilities (Frenchport) Prep work for upgrade of ESB connections

What is planned for 2015? Upgrade of Frenchport Planning permission for sub-station Review of Industry requirement Environmental monitoring

What are long-term plans for site? Expected Developments 2016 onwards Sub-station build Upgrade ESB network connections Upgrade of broadband/internet connections Frenchport upgrades Expected Developments 2017 onwards Deployment of components (support structures) Offshore Cable build Expected Developments 2018 onwards Deployment of WECs

Why will this be good for Belmullet? Updated infrastructure (port, broadband, ESB connections) Ongoing real-time data- www.oceanenergyireland.com Jobs- EMEC -300 jobs directly in industry Energy Production- Orkney +100% of Energy produced by renewables- considering independence from utilities!

Sustainable Energy Communities

Sustainable Energy Communities Developing new approaches to achieving high quality and efficient delivery of improvements in energy efficiency and renewable energy within Irish communities.

Better Energy Communities - Wexford Total investment €1.3M Grants €730k Annual Savings €150k 214 homes 2 community centres Residential community Biomass District heating

2014 Developments Drombane – Tipperary communities Aran Islands – West coast communities BELMULLET – GREAT Community

From 2013 – 2014: Emerging Regional Spread Double the Investment in 2014 and 18% increase in grants approved TOTAL € 10.3 million TOTAL € 19.3 million   2013 2014 Total domestic upgrades 740 6000 + Total community upgrades 291 800 +

Sustainable Energy Communities & BEC 1. Commit 2. Identify 3. Plan 4. Take Action 5. Review Trish/Declan – I am not sure if you need this one? Difference between BEC and SEC Commit: est. governance, identify stakeholders Identify : define zone, collect baseline data, set benchmarks Plan: refine energy master plan, set targets and est. M+V, Develop project plan, allocate resources Take action: implement projects, M+V, be exemplar, community engagement Review: track progress, evaluate projects, share learnings, inform policy BEC

The Sustainable Energy Community Ingredients Actors and enablers Innovative partnerships Collaboration with industry Access to funding A clear vision and roadmap Infrastructure Data and ICT Smart networks Actions A good portfolio of ‘smart’ projects Demonstrate a capacity to deliver Early wins and specific benefits

So why isn’t it happening NOW It is currently no ones job to pull this together Resources are not assigned to manage the process Communities are not actively engaged Energy infrastructure is not made relevant to Communities

SEC Works at all Levels County Wide SEC City Town Street / Village

Feb March Sept Plan for 2015 Launch Network Consult Champions BEC SEZ Local Auth Consult Champions Gaps/ Strengths Competencies Training needs Launch Network Voluntary OR 3 year commit All levels Agreements

Thank you. Patricia. Comiskey@seai. ie (AMETS) Ruth. Buggie@seai Thank you. Patricia.Comiskey@seai.ie (AMETS) Ruth.Buggie@seai.ie (SEC) Declan.Meally@seai.ie