Offshore Renewable Energy test sites in Ireland
Test sites facilitate the testing and development of wave, tidal and offshore wind energy technology at all technology readiness levels.
Current test site facilities
Ongoing improvement and expansion of our test and demonstration facilities is key to our ocean energy goals in Ireland. Our current facilities cover all Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) from 1 - 9.
Lir National Ocean Test Facility (Lir-NOTF) - Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork
Lir consists of state of the art wave tanks and electrical rigs that allow for scaled testing in a controlled environment.
- Technological Readiness Level (TRL) 1 - 4
- Find out more about Lir-NOTF
SmartBay - Spiddal, Galway
The Marine Institute is collaborating with SEAI and SFI to develop a national test and demonstration facility in north Galway Bay, near Spiddal. This 1/4-scale ocean energy test site is suitable for testing of marine renewable energy technology devices.
- Technological Readiness Level (TRL) 4 - 6
- Find out more about SmartBay
Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site (AMETS) - Belmullet, Co. Mayo
The Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site (AMETS) is being developed by the SEAI to facilitate testing of full scale wave energy converters and floating offshore wind technology devices in an open ocean environment. AMETS will be located off Annagh Head, west of Belmullet in County Mayo and will be connected to the national grid. SEAI was granted a Foreshore Lease for the AMETS site in 2014. All documentation in support of this lease application can be viewed below.
- Technological Readiness Level (TRL) 7 - 9
- Find out more about the Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site
Testing protocol and requirements
Our recommended development and evaluation protocol for testing is set out in the UCC-HMRC document on Ocean Energy.
The evaluation and technical requirements for each Technology Readiness Level can be found in the Evaluation and Guidance Framework for Ocean Energy Technology by the International Energy Agency, Ocean Energy Systems TCP.