A Mayo based renewable energy startup Solar MarineEnergy is making plans to build Ireland’s first floating solar energy plant which it proposes to locate in Cork Harbour, writes the Irish Examiner.

“We have secured permission from the Port of Cork to install a 1.5MW plant at Ringaskiddy and are in the process of signing up the Marine and Renewable Energy Centre as clients for our electricity,” said Solar Marine Energy chief executive and co-founder Eamon Howlin, adding he has now applied to Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government for a foreshore licence for the project.

Hoping to get the plant up and running next year, Mr Howlin said that in addition to providing a supply of clean green energy, the “floating photovoltaic” installation will allow the company to demonstrate the effectiveness of its technology to prospective clients around the world.

He said the proposed installation will have the capacity to provide enough electricity for the annual needs of 350 houses. Seven years ago, Mr Howlin and company co-founder Michael Whelan observed the emergence of floating solar energy. They identified a gap in the market for floating platforms built to international maritime standards.

The newspaper has more on this proposed coastal development.