Cutting edge power trials at secret location in Mayo

AN international company experimenting in innovative ways to produce electricity is expected to trial their latest technology off the Mayo coastline.

The planned location of the trials is being kept secret by Mayo County Council which is working in conjunction with the company involved Ampyx Power, a Dutch enterprise.

Pat McHale, executive engineer with the council, revealed that Ampyx soon hope to test AP3, the latest version of their technology, off the Mayo coast.

AP3 is essentially a large drone with a wingspan of about 12 metres attached by a tether to a sea based electricity generator on a platform.

'They are looking to trial it (AP3) here in Mayo,' Mr. McHale told SPC members.

He added: 'They are still carrying out their feasibilty studies to confirm their location but at this point we are fairly confident they are coming to Mayo and we have a location in mind but that's not in the public domain at the moment, it's confidential.'

Mr. McHale said a type of windfarm at sea was envisaged but not in the traditional sense in that there would be no large structure involved resulting in a greatly reduced visual impact and increased efficiency.

Councillor Neil Cruise (FG) asked why the company was only looking at offshore locations.

He pointed out that there are vast tracts of open ground which could be used for such purposes in east Mayo and elsewhere.

Mr. McHale replied that inland locations may be yet be an option. A lot of space is needed to test something that isn't proven technology yet, he pointed out.