Developing shared multi-use engineering tools, templates, standards and models for the Wave & Tidal Engery Sectors in both Wales and Ireland.
The waves and tides around Ireland and Wales could provide significant low carbon energy. Local companies that build devices to harness this natural resource are already creating jobs and exporting around the world. Even though Ocean Energy has progressed significantly in recent years and our understanding of the challenges has improved, many device developers are struggling to make the final steps to both pre commercial and commercial readiness.
Two of the main reasons for this are high costs and difficulties accessing funding for technologies. A commonly used phrase in MRE at the moment is that ‘the industry must get metal wet’ meaning it needs more open sea deployments to prove performance and survivability and thus give confidence to investors.
Selkie is placed in the space whereby it facilitates and contributes to the deployment of MRE technologies in open sea environments in the most efficient cost effective manner. Both Ireland and Wales have ample talent and expertise between the two jurisdictions to make the MRE sector successfully viable. The project activity will deliver a set of tools for business planning, engineering and operation of MRE.
Therefore, the aims of the project are:
- Establish a cross-border network of Ocean Energy SMEs and supply chain companies;
- Conduct industry-academic collaborative R&D projects;
- Transfer R&D knowledge to wave and tidal industry/SME stakeholders, thereby advancing the technology sector as whole;
- Assist Irish and Welsh SMEs to progress along the path to commercialisation.
Selkie will achieve these aims by developing shared multi-use engineering tools, templates, standards and models, which can be used across the sector in both Wales and Ireland.
Our countries are ideally located to maximise the potential of this high
resource area.