North Mayo seas recommended for wave energy site

North Mayo seas recommended for wave energy site


Rowan Gallagher

NORTH West Mayo is set to get major wave-energy development if recommendations from the Marine Renewables Industry Association (MRIA) are taken on board by the Government.
The zone from Benwee Head to Achill Head has been designated as one of four Initial Development Zones due to developer interest according to the organisation.
“There are significant challenges in developing each of these zones, but MRIA believe that they should be prioritised as candidates for development by 2020. This will require significant co-operation and support from all Government agencies and from industry,” the report states.
The initial plan would involve the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government permitting surveys by the Marine Institute to see if the area in question would be suitable for such a large development.
Further to this, in a discussion paper in 2010 regarding renewable energies Mayo County Council stated that it is of the opinion that “only a limited number of renewable energies within the county have the capability to make a contribution on a regional or national scale. These are wave energy, biomass and wind energy.”
Independent Belmullet councillor Michael Holmes is in favour of the recommendations, but wants all local people to be kept in the loop at all times. “I would be in support, in principle. There is a lot of potential here. We have had a few briefing on this type of thing and I would agree with it in general, but it needs to be in consultation with all the local people …
“All cards need to be put on the table at an early stage. This wave energy is a clean, harmless way of doing things,” Mr Holmes concluded.
“The West coast generally has an excellent wave resource, and certainly Mayo is in this top Division,” said Peter Coyle, Chairman of the MRIA. Speaking to The Mayo News, he said that the Initial Development Zones are suggestions aimed at simplifying the policymaker’s task; an enormous legal and consultative process – covering licensing, leasing, Environmental Impact Assessments and more – must be carried out before any works are undertaken in the area.