Abstract
Ocean energy – wave and tidal generated electricity - is at the Research and Development, pre-commercial stage. Ireland has a significant effort underway in ocean energy R and D which represents a potential competitive advantage for the country particularly in light of other advantages such as the highly energy intensive wave resource, possible access to major markets through the Anglo Irish talks on electricity supply now underway and other factors.
This Paper records the views of the three key stakeholders in ocean energy R and D- Third Level institutions, Government Agencies and Industry. It sets out the boundaries to ocean energy at the present as discerned by these stakeholders and it identifies the five research priorities for the next few years: develop and grow the database; develop understanding of the economics of the industry; promote a series of projects to deal with practical engineering problems; continue to invest in infrastructure; and build the research effort into the environmental dimension to ocean energy. Overarching all of this is the need to provide funding for R and D in this (Government-determined) research priority area.