Sir, – PJ McGarry asks where we are with wave-power generation (Letters, October 1st).
It is now over 20 years since the Energy Panel of the Irish Council for Science Technology and Innovation, which I chaired, set out the enormous potential of ocean wave technology and the steps to be taken towards its development for domestic consumption and export trade of energy and related services.
It was considered then that Ireland enjoys a singularly favourable wave climate and that the principal technologies – civil, electrical, and ocean engineering – were already well developed in this country.
The then-government welcomed the report and promised immediate action.
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So what has been done to implement those recommendations?
Given the increasing energy crisis, the daily communication of increasing disaster, the appalling outlook, the time elapsed since the report was submitted, it is important to know, from the relevant authority or department of Government, the present state of play on ocean wave power.
Could it be that we have diverted all our efforts into wind power? – Yours, etc,
COLUM MacDONNELL,
Glenageary,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Wave power. Isn’t that what the late Queen Elizabeth had? – Yours, etc,
GUY STEPHENSON,
Letterkenny,
Co Donegal.