SolarMarine Energy in County Mayo, Republic of Ireland, has designed an innovative floating hybrid renewable energy system, which could provide clean power for Irish coastal communities.
The research and development project was funded by the Marine Institute’s 2018 Industry-Led Awards scheme.
Under the scheme, the Marine Institute provided €2.4m in funding for research projects to 12 companies, working in collaboration with five higher education institutions.
For this research project, SolarMarine Energy designed a floating solar energy structure to produce green hydrogen.
Green hydrogen is generated using excess renewable energy that can be used as a clean fuel, for heating and transport or to store and transport energy.
SolarMarine Energy said its research indicates that floating solar energy is ideal for island and coastal communities.
SolarMarine Energy CEO Eamon Howlin said: “The floating solar industry is only emerging in Europe having been established in Japan in 2014 and has a projected market value of over $1bn by 2023.
“Thanks to our collaborative study in partnership with the Marine Institute and University College Cork, SolarMarine Energy Ltd are playing an important part in this developing industry.”