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Shannon Region to become Major Green Energy Hub with the launch of the Shannon Energy Valley Initiative

The Taoiseach, Brian Cowen TD, today (Sunday, 14 March 2010) announced in San Jose, California, that Shannon Development, the University of Limerick (UL), the University of Ireland Galway (NUI Galway), and Silicon Valley’s Irish Technology Leadership Group (ITLG), had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish the Shannon Energy Valley project, a major renewable energy hub in Ireland’s Shannon Region.

The Shannon Energy Valley initiative will create a national hub for Energy research and development, industry and commerce with a view to attracting international investment and generating high-end employment in the region. An Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed between the four partners that commits them to delivering a hub of excellence and innovation that will harness the natural resources of the region, as well as its highly skilled workforce and access to top class research and development expertise at UL and NUI Galway.

Speaking at the launch of Shannon Energy Valley, which took place at the ITLG conference in Silicon Valley, California, today Dr. Vincent Cunnane, Chief Executive, Shannon Development, said “The Shannon Energy Valley project brings together public and private sector organisations in a unique initiative that will lead to new opportunities and developments in the energy sector. The Shannon Energy Valley initiative will support the development, manufacture, installation, operation and maintenance of wind, wave/tidal, biomass, solar, geothermal generation facilities and related infrastructure. A key component of the Shannon Energy Valley will be the development of an Energy and Environment Park which will host demonstrator projects in the area of renewable energy and will serve to showcase projects to ensure public awareness and community engagement.”

Professor Brian Fitzgerald, Vice President Research UL said that the Shannon Energy Valley is the first step in the road towards energy self-sufficiency for Ireland while generating much needed employment opportunities and reducing costs for industry. “The European Wind Energy Association has estimated that the spending on importing energy in Ireland works out at almost €1,000 per annum for every man, woman and child. Ireland is surrounded by natural resources in the form of wind, wave, tidal, solar and local geothermal energy. This is a major opportunity for Ireland to become a leader in energy research while also maximising our resources and in turn creating sustainable green collar jobs.”

NUI Galway Vice-President for Research, Professor Terry Smith, said: “The Shannon Energy Valley concept seeks to provide a big-picture coherent ecosystem relating to energy. The main research partners, NUI Galway and UL, will combine their research efforts in a coherent way from the outset and will provide a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes right up to PhD level to provide the necessary human capital for the project. NUI Galway introduced a New B.E. in Energy Systems Engineering, integrating energy sources, energy conversion and energy utilisation in 2009, while UL has also commenced its BSc. Energy programme with the first cohort of student due to graduate in 2013. Both Universities have been to the forefront in Technology Transfer in recent years. This formal partnership, however, in the development of an Irish energy hub, in association with the other two partners, is the first major initiative in regional development to flow directly from the Strategic Alliance between NUI Galway and UL launched by An Taoiseach, Brian Cowen TD, on February 18 last , a groundbreaking strategy of combining the resources of the two Universities over a wide range of their operations in the interests of both the development of the region and their students.”

Mr John Hartnett, President and Founder of ITLG, and President and CEO of Silicon Valley based Solar Energy Company, G24 Innovations, said: “This initiative with the partners University of Limerick, NUI Galway, Shannon Development and the ITLG puts Ireland in a optimum position to become a leading innovator and developer of clean technologies.”

The MOU sets out the objectives of the four-way alliance between the Irish and US bodies as:
• The creation of a world-class cluster of sustainable energy-related activity to support job creation and business start-ups through national and international investment
• Reduction of Ireland’s carbon footprint, energy generation costs, dependency on fossil fuel imports and helping the country meet environmental and emissions commitments
• Enhancing Ireland’s capability in the sustainable energy sector by attracting world-class R&D energy expertise, realising its commercial benefits and enabling further, advanced R&D activities
• Growing Ireland’s smart economy by developing additional education and training capability at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in specialised energy disciplines.

At the US launch by the Taoiseach Brian Cowen TD., of the Shannon Region as a major Green Energy Hub are (l-r) ; Dr. Vincent Cunnane, Chief Executive, Shannon Development; Brian Fitzgerald Vice President Research at the University of Limerick, the Taoiseach Brian Cowen TD., Jimmy Browne, President NUI Galway, and John Hartnett, President and founder of the Irish Technology Leadership Group.

SHANNON DEVELOPMENT – 2009 End of Year Statement

• €15.5m investment supports approved for SFZ companies leveraging €57m in investments.
• €10.5 million invested in property solutions for foreign and indigenous companies.
• Shannon Development’s tourism campaigns yield almost 600,000 additional bed night, generating €47m visitor spend.
• New Limerick Development Division established to promote Greater Limerick Area.
• Shannon Development own tourism generated initiatives produce significant results – 38 tourism deals signed
• Shannon Development becomes the first state agency in Ireland to use Sat Nav to map tourist attractions & accommodation.
• €4 million project at Tipperary Technology Park near completion
• €3 million Tarbert E-Town project completed

Shannon Development welcomes increase in Continental Airlines services to Shannon Airport

Shannon Development today welcomes the announcement by Continental Airlines to increase its operation at Shannon Airport this summer by operating an additional four services to Newark Liberty International Airport in New York .

Welcoming the announcement Paul Ryan, Tourism and Corporate Marketing Manager, Shannon Development, said, “This announcement by Continental Airlines is an endorsement of the continued appeal of the Shannon Region as a popular tourist destination. We are delighted with the decision by Continental Airlines to extend its service and as the Tourism Authority for the Shannon Region, we looks forward to working with them to maximise visitor numbers to our Region.”

Shannon Development welcomes extension of US Pre-Clearance Facilities at Shannon Airport to include Private Aircraft

Dr Vincent Cunnane, Chief Executive, Shannon Development, warmly welcomed the announcement by Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey TD, that the Irish and US governments have agreed to extend the pre-clearance facilities for US bound flights from Shannon Airport to include private aircraft.

Dr Cunnane congratulated Minister Dempsey and his officials in the Department of Transport, and Mr Brian O’Connell, Chairman, Shannon Airport Authority, and his team at the Airport, on delivering this added incentive for air traffic growth for the Airport and the Region.

Shannon Development Chief joins Shannon Airport Authority Board

Dr Vincent Cunnane, Chief Executive, Shannon Development, has been appointed to the Board of Shannon Airport Authority by Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey TD. Ms Olivia Loughnane, Mid West Task Force Manager, Shannon Development, has also been reappointed by Minister Dempsey to the Board of Shannon Airport Authority.

Commenting on his appointment, Dr Cunnane said “I am delighted to be joining my Shannon Development colleague, Ms Olivia Loughnane, on the Board of Shannon Airport Authority, and I look forward to working with the new Chairman of the Airport Authority, Mr Brian O’Connell, and the other members of the Board, to develop and promote Shannon International Airport as a critical international gateway for industry and tourism in the West of Ireland”.

Dr Cunnane said “As the Regional Development Agency and Regional Tourism Authority, Shannon Development strongly believes that a successful and viable Shannon Airport is essential for the future economic development of this region and the entire Western corridor”.

Dr Cunnane continued “Shannon Development and Shannon Airport have enjoyed a close working relationship for many years. Earlier this year, our two companies signed a joint marketing agreement and are now working closer than ever on marketing initiatives to get the best possible return for Shannon Airport and the West of Ireland”.