The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Apple to promote the development of ocean energy in Ireland.
Apple has committed a €1 million fund that will help developers who receive an SEAI grant to test their ocean energy prototypes in the Galway Bay Ocean Energy Test Site.
Minister for Communication, Energy and Natural Resources Alex White T.D., said: “The west coast of Ireland is recognised as having some of the best wave resources in the world and I warmly welcome this agreement between Apple and SEAI to help harness this renewable source of energy. “This is an excellent achievement for Ireland and shows that when it comes to ocean energy development, Ireland is definitely open for business.”
The Galway Bay test site, in operation since 2006, is a facility which enables the testing of wave energy technologies at quarter scale.
“We’re excited by the potential of ocean energy to someday serve as a source of clean power for the data centre we are building in Athenry, County Galway,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives. “We are deeply committed to powering all our facilities with 100 percent renewable energy and believe investing in innovative projects will make reaching our goal easier.”