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

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

3. Overview of activity at AMETS

4. 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.

5. 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

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

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

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

9. 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

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

11. Sustainable Energy Communities

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

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

14. 2014 Developments Drombane – Tipperary communities
Aran Islands – West coast communities
BELMULLET – GREAT Community

15. 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 +

16. Sustainable Energy Communities & BEC1.
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

17. 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

18. 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

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

20. 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

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