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14
INNOVATION
December 2012/January 2013 www.esb.ie/em
Ireland is the first country to implement IBM integrated ecars IT platform
THE MINISTER for Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD, has launched a joint project between ESB and IBM to build and implement a cloud-based, electric vehicle IT platform. The platform will allow for a seamless user experience at any charge point across Ireland.
ESB Chief Executive Pat O’Doherty and IBM Country Manager Peter O’Neill were present at the launch of the project, which will provide electric vehicle (EV) users with an integrated and simple experience when plugging into charge points anywhere in the country using an ID card.
The platform will also give drivers the choice to use a mobile device or web browser to locate their nearest charge post and to check on its current availability. Users will be able to choose and change energy suppliers for recharging at any time, without financial penalty.
Minister Bruton said, “Green energy and cloud computing are key sectors being targeted by the Government as part of our Action Plan for Jobs. This innovative partnership between an Irish energy company and a global IT leader puts Ireland at the forefront of global developments in the electric vehicle sector by using cutting edge cloud technologies, and represents a clear demonstration of what is possible in this area. Ireland will now be the first country globally to put in place this system on a national basis, and I am determined to ensure that through continued implementation of our plan we will see further examples of leadership in these areas.”
The project will provide the services needed to operate, manage and maintain the network of charge-points in a secure and reliable manner.
For more on this project, and other initiatives being undertaken by ESB ecars, please visit our website www.esb.ie/ecars.
ESB ecar Ambassadors give thumbs up to electric cars
TWENTY-ONE ecar ambassadors were selected from among 12,000 applicants to trial electric vehicles for up to one year as part of ESB ecars Great Electric Drive.
Pictured is ESB ecar Ambassador Beatrice Whelan who has use of a 100% electric Nissan LEAF, which she uses for her daily commute, which is about 100km from her home in Monasterevin to Citywest and back again via the M7 motorway.
Beatrice charges the ecar at home overnight using a home charge-point, and is making fuel savings of around 90% compared to the cost of fuelling a petrol/diesel car. For longer journeys, Beatrice uses the network of public charge-points to re-charge her ecar.
Beatrice said, “These are very real savings I am making by driving the electric car. I am now spending a fraction of what I was spending on fuel getting to work every day, which is a real bonus.”
The students are very interested in the technology used in the electric car, which delivers such low running costs and impacts so positively on the environment through reduced emissions. Both Beatrice and Olivia are participating in an ESB ecars information campaign running on TV3 and 3e, where they share their experiences of driving an electric car.
The campaign will run to just before Christmas. Beatrice and Olivia are documenting their experiences of driving the electric car on ESB ecar blog – www.esbecarsblog.ie.
ESB-supported company Nualight achieves global recognition
CORK-BASED SPECIALIST lighting manufacturer Nualight is the first Irish company be included in the Global Cleantech 100 list, which aims to identify the cleantech companies most likely to make a significant market impact in the next five-to-ten years. The companies listed are selected by an expert panel of 75 leading global financial investors and there were a staggering 8,285 international nominations this year underlying the explosive growth in the low-carbon economy.
Nualight CEO Dr. Liam Kelly said the listing was welcome recognition for the company’s ongoing expansion drive. “Nualight is now recognised as a market leader in LED lighting technology innovation for food retail. We welcome this acknowledgement from the global cleantech innovation community and look forward to delivering real benefits to our retail customers in terms of reducing energy bills whilst improving lighting quality.”
Nualight has been supported by Novusmodus, ESB’s venture capital fund for start-up businesses in the cleantech and renewable energy sectors. Novusmodus Partner John McKiernan said, “ESB Novusmodus has supported Nualight’s impressive growth from pilot sales in 2009 through to commercial revenues of €25m in 2011. Nualight is building a reputation as one of Ireland’s new export success stories. It’s great to see technology developed in Ireland being commercialised across Europe and the USA and supporting 190 quality jobs in the process.”
Harnessing the potential of the ocean
THE FOURTH International Conference on Ocean Energy 2012 (ICOE), which focused on the global marine energy sector and development of renewable marine energy, took place in Dublin from Wednesday to Friday October 17th-19th. More than 900 global industry experts, policy makers and academics gathered to discuss developments and trends in ocean energy making this the biggest and most successful conference to date. One of the conference’s key goals was to promote collaboration between companies and research centres and to leverage synergies from cross-country developments.
Ocean energy offers an exciting opportunity for Ireland, given the abundant resource off the west coast. As a clean and environmentally-friendly source of energy, ocean energy has the potential to deliver significant economic benefits and reduces our reliance on imported fossil fuels through providing an additional, and complimentary, renewable-energy source.
It was appropriate and timely that Ireland should host this international and high profile event and ESB was delighted to sponsor the event and to actively participate in the conference.
Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte TD opened the conference and outlined how Ireland was committed to developing its wind and wave resources. He also stressed the importance of collaboration between Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland on related grid infrastructure developments.
More than a hundred papers were presented by leading ocean energy experts and academics. ESB International was well represented amongst these experts.
ESB Head of Innovation John Mc-Sweeney gave a keynote address and spoke about ESB’s commitment to supporting the industry during these early development stages through R&D support and involvement in early stage demonstration projects. He also discussed the pre-commercial West Wave project that ESB is involved in. For more information visit www.westwave.ie/
Experts from ESBI including Dr Paddy Kavanagh and Anne Marie Downey briefed delegates on ESB’s experience of obtaining planning consent for ocean energy projects. ESBI’s perspectives on supply chain issues were outlined by Dr Cera Slevin and ESBI’s expertise and knowledge were shared with delegates through posters and presentations from Dr John Fitzgerald, Fergus Sharkey and Patrick O’Rourke from ESBI Engineering.
The exhibition area showcased the latest solutions and devices from world-leading companies who are pioneering technologies. The ESB exhibition stand was extremely busy over the three days as delegates were provided with an opportunity to discuss Ocean Energy and ESBI renewable energy services first hand with the relevant ESBI experts.
To find out more about the experts and topics at the International Ocean Energy Conference, please click here: www.icoe2012dublin.com/ICOE_2012/
Asian delegation visits ESB ecars
