Research for renewables

An overview of SmartBay Ireland’s R&D activities in Galway Bay.

SmartBay Ireland Ltd is a not-for-profit company, established by the Marine Institute and the third level sector to manage Ireland’s Marine Test and Demonstration Facility in Galway Bay. The SmartBay project receives funding from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and Dublin City University (DCU) is the lead research organisation. Other research partners include the Marine Institute, NUI Galway, NUI Maynooth, University College Dublin, Intel and IBM.

SmartBay Ireland’s technical team provides marine support and ICT solutions to support users of the infrastructure. SmartBay Ireland facilitates the development of innovative approaches for the collection and dissemination of marine data and the testing and demonstration of novel sensors and equipment.

Within Galway Bay, national and international ocean energy device developers can utilise SmartBay infrastructure and marine support services to validate prototype devices and collect data during deployments. The ¼ scale test site allows smaller scale devices, or those at an earlier stage in their development, to be validated in less challenging conditions than those experienced at other international full-scale wave test sites, thereby reducing manufacturing and deployment costs associated with the deployment of full scale devices.

The creation of this Marine Test Facility will help to ensure that Ireland plays a key role in the future development of this new industry by supporting the development of a local supply chain. The expertise developed within this supply chain will help ensure that Ireland is positioned to realise the full potential of this industry through the development of local manufacturing and high-tech skills and experience.

On 12 November 2012, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton TD and Minister of State for Research and Innovation Sean Sherlock TD announced the details of a €2.9 million investment by Science Foundation Ireland.

SmartBay Ireland in collaboration with the Marine Institute, SEAI, the Hydraulics Maritime Research Centre (UCC) have been awarded €2.9 million funding to install a subsea power and data cable from Spiddal, County Galway, to a distance of 4.5km out to sea. The cable will terminate at an underwater hub that will link to the existing ¼ scale ocean energy test facility located within Galway Bay.

The sub-sea cable will provide power and data connectivity to the site which will enable researchers, SMEs and multi-national corporations to test and demonstrate new sensors and ICT equipment in a near real-time subsea test environment.

John Breslin, General Manager, said: “The development of a Cabled Sub Sea Observatory is an important addition to Ireland’s National Marine Test and Demonstration Facility in Galway Bay which will attract researchers and industry users from a variety of sectors who can test, demonstrate and validate novel sensors and equipment. We are currently targeting both national and international clients from within a number of industry sectors, including ocean energy, shipping and security, oil and gas, and aquaculture.”

SmartBay Ireland is keen to collaborate with researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs, to develop R&D projects and proposals. Partners can use both SmartBay’s physical and cyber environment to collect data and to develop new solutions for the marine and related sectors.

For more information, contact John Breslin, General Manager, as follows:
SmartBay Ireland Ltd
Parkmore Business Park West, Galway
Tel: +353 (0)91 392900
Email: info@smartbay.ie
Web: www.smartbay.ie