Public consultations to inform local communities in Ballycastle and on Rathlin Island about a proposed 100MW tidal energy scheme off the North Antrim coast attracted more than 100 visitors over the two days according to the organisers.

Representatives from Fair Head Tidal say they were delighted by the turn out. The renewable energy scheme proposed by development companies DP Energy and Bluepower NV would provide enough electricity for more than 70,000 homes.

Fair ”Head Tidal project manager Clodagh McGrath says she and her team noticed that most people visiting the consultation exhibition in the Marine Hotel in Ballycastle, and the Richard Branson Centre on Rathlin, were well informed.

“We were very pleased that so many people engaged enthusiastically and were positive about our proposals,” says Ms McGrath. “We understand that there will always be sensitivities surrounding any new developments. We were here to explain the extensive survey work we have been doing, display images to show how the project might look, and how we will seek to minimise any impacts on the local environment and the communities that live and work there.”

“Engagement with local communities is a very important part of our development activities, and we welcomed the level of feedback we received over the two days, which will help in finalising our plans”, she says.

Fair Head Tidal intends to submit a planning application for the offshore component of the project, covering a development area of some 3.3 square kilometres and about one kilometre north east of Fair Head, later this summer. Before the end of the year, the Fair Head Tidal team will be back in Ballycastle to share details on the second component of the project. This will cover the proposed onshore works in the vicinity of Murlough Bay in order to connect the tidal project into the Northern Ireland electricity network.

“We are very respectful of the views of local communities,” says Ms McGrath, “and we look forward to returning to the area in the coming months to share our proposals for the onshore works and again very much welcome feedback.

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Media contact:

[email protected]

DP Energy’s Port Augusta Renewable Energy Park has received Development Approval from the South Australian Government.

Once fully commissioned, the Port Augusta Renewable Energy Park will generate approximately 1,000 gigawatt hours (GWh) of clean renewable energy directly into the national electricity grid per year, enough to power about 200,000 homes and save 470,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year. Located near the former Northern Power Station, the project will create much-needed employment in the energy sector for the Port Augusta region.

The development application was approved following significant consultation with the relevant government agencies, consideration of public submissions and detailed advice from the Development Assessment Commission, an independent statutory authority.

South Australia is recognised nationally as a leader in renewable energy, with about 35 per cent of Australia’s installed wind-generated power. Approval enables delivery of one of the largest and most significant hybrid renewable energy projects in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the installation of some 59 wind turbines and almost 400 hectares of solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays for a combined generation capacity of up to 375 MW. This one project will make a material contribution to South Australia achieving its low carbon investment target of $10 billion by 2025.

The project’s added significance turns on its unique generation profile: the wind resource is primarily driven by the temperature difference between the land and sea rather than by weather systems, and hence exhibits a regular early evening peak which is well aligned with the daily peak demand for electricity. This effect is also strongest in the summer when temperature differences are at their greatest, meaning that annual energy generation also peaks when it is most needed. When this evening wind generation temperature effect is coupled with large-scale solar generation (which has a midday peak) a good match to overall demand can be achieved thereby supporting the electricity network and placing downward pressure on wholesale prices.

DP Energy’s CEO, Simon De Pietro said that “South Australia stands out as an ideal investment destination for DP Energy. The state has great natural resources in both wind and sun coupled with a clear regulatory framework, an excellent case management service (through Investment Attraction South Australia), and a professional and independent planning assessment process (through the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure and the Development Assessment Commission). These factors have been invaluable in helping DP Energy to navigate the necessary approvals and bring this project to reality.”

“The Port Augusta Renewable Energy Park represents a new breed of renewable energy generation which will deliver the right power at the right time for energy consumers, and deliver economic benefit to the region and the State,” Mr De Pietro said.

The project CAPEX is estimated to be approximately $680M, and will create 250 jobs over construction – peaking at some 600 over the height of that phase of the development, and 15-20 ongoing jobs. The build will involve using local SA businesses wherever possible, an approach that DP Energy adopts across all the jurisdictions within which it operates. DP Energy looks forward to working with the local community to find innovative ways in which to maximise the local benefits both through employment generation and by facilitating local supply chain opportunities.
ENDS

Media contacts:

Australia:
Gaby Powell, DP Energy Australia
E: [email protected]
T: +61 (0)7 40 952 877
www.dpenergy.com

Northern Ireland:
Joris Minnie , JPRNI,
Sylvan House, 232-240 Belmont Road, Belfast, BT4 2AW
E: [email protected]
T: +44 (0)28 9076 0066

Other jurisdictions:
Judith Patten MBE, JPPR
34 Ellerker Gardens, Richmond, Surrey TW10 6AA, UK
T: +44 (0)20 8241 1912
M: +44 (0)7970626656
E: [email protected]

WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL TIDAL POWER TURBINE LAUNCHED BY HARLAND & WOLFF

DP Energy has welcomed the launch of the world’s most powerful floating tidal turbine in Belfast. Commissioned by Scotrenewables Tidal Power, the SR2000 is the result of joint investment of £25m by the main investors: DP Energy, ABB, Scottish Government’s Renewable Energy Investment Fund, Fred. Olsen Group and Total New Energies.

Simon de Pietro, CEO of DP Energy says the tidal energy sector is rapidly approaching maturity. “The sector is now beyond its emerging phase and the SR2000 device is a bold step forward proving the viability of tidal as a sustainable, reliable and predictable energy source.”

Steel fabrication of the machine was carried out by fabricators in Scotland, Northern Ireland and England with assembly and commissioning of the SR2000 taking place at Harland & Wolff shipyard over the past 12 months, drawing on H&W’s 150 years of marine manufacturing experience to deliver this next generation technology.

The company’s novel floating technology offers a low cost solution to tidal energy generation through simplified and safe manufacture, installation, access and maintenance of units along with the ability to use low cost, small workboats for all offshore operations.

 Following a short period of sea-trials in the Belfast harbour region, the turbine will be towed to Orkney for a testing programme at the European Marine Energy Centre, where the company will demonstrate the potential for its technology to deliver a step-change cost reduction to the tidal energy sector.

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 Media contacts:

Joris Minne, JPR, [email protected] tel: 0044 7876 218978

Leading independent renewables development company DP Energy has welcomed the European Commission’s latest State of the Energy Union commitment to deliver on the EU’s collective 2030 targets. These include a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels and sourcing at least 27% of energy from renewables.

Simon De Pietro, managing director of Cork-based DP Energy, says he is pleased that the European Commission has specified that all EU countries should have a least 10% interconnection capacity by 2020, increasing to 15% by 2030.

“This is an encouraging report from the commission. The pursuit of various goals including interconnection capacity and energy market design to boost cross-border power trade and integration of renewables into the system amounts to a distinctive and urgent call for action,” says Mr De Pietro.

“Energy Union’s vice president Maroš Šefčovič says 2016 will be a year of delivery during which we will see greater moves towards a low-carbon economy which is socially fair and consumer-centred. This chimes very well with DP Energy’s aims and ambitions as a developer of renewable energy projects across the world” he says.

DP Energy’s portfolio of renewable energy projects includes tidal projects off the coasts of Canada, Scotland and Northern Ireland, wind and solar developments in Ireland, and a recently submitted development application for a 375MW hybrid wind/solar development in South Australia.

“It is critical for any renewables energy developer to be able to invest in a stable legislative environment” says Mr De Pietro.

1st December 2015

Nova Scotia Government welcomes DP Energy to the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE).

Ireland-based renewable power development company DP Energy has secured tidal stream demonstration power production rights of 4.5MW on a seabed site known as Berth E in the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia.

Minister of Energy Michel Samson formally announced his Department’s intention to award a berth to DP Energy during the UN Climate Change conference in Paris.

“We are pleased to welcome DP Energy to Nova Scotia,” said Energy Minister Michel Samson. “DP Energy’s investment is further proof of Nova Scotia’s standing as an international leader in the tidal energy industry.”

DP Energy has plans to install three 1.5-megawatt turbines at its new site. Simon De Pietro, CEO of DP Energy said he welcomed the outcome.

“DP Energy is delighted to join with the other FORCE berth-holders in picking up the tidal energy challenge in the Bay of Fundy,” he said. “We welcome Nova Scotia’s vision and forward thinking in recognizing tidal energy as a one of the major worldwide renewable energy sources for the future.”

DP Energy recently took a 50% position in Berth C in partnership with Atlantis Operations Canada for the development of 4.5MW utilising Lockheed/Atlantis technology and further building its position in Canada.

DP Energy has been working closely with technology partner Andritz Hammerfest since 2013 on the project plan, and the team believe that they now have a very compelling proposition in place. Simon De Pietro says the award places the company he and his mother Maureen established originally as an early stage wind development company firmly at the top of the marine energy development sector.

“This is a very significant development for DP Energy and is a further expression of our confidence in tidal energy generation as a key component in the portfolio of reliable, predictable and emissions free power sources needed to take us into a more sustainable future,” says Mr De Pietro.

The Cork-based firm became Europe’s largest independent developer of tidal stream following its acquisition of the Westray South project from SSE Renewables in April 2014.

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Media contacts:

Niamh Kenny, DP Energy, Cork, Ireland mob: + 353 87 686 6879 or [email protected]