Community

As projects such as this represent a large amount of capital investment, there is considerable opportunity for job creation within the local community and along the Atlantic coast. Simply Blue Energy will support local job creation at all stages, including by working with the fishing industry and local supply chain to explore opportunities for future employment

A range of supply chain opportunities will be rolled out as the project progresses, from initial consultation and survey work to port and road infrastructure development, to construction and installation. Simply Blue are undertaking a study into what components of the WEC units could potentially be sourced or manufactured locally with a view to engaging with potential suppliers directly to help them get involved. Ongoing Operation & Maintenance (O&M) contracts for will also come on-stream post construction. Local suppliers will be encouraged at all stages with tender scoring weighted based on local investment content.

The enormous potential for harnessing the energy of the Atlantic Ocean has been anticipated for many years. Saoirse’s WEC demonstration installation will pave the way for this concept to become a reality, opening up further opportunities and driving vital capital investment in West Coast communities.