SEAI and the Marine Institute established an Ocean Energy Test Site for ¼-scale prototypes of wave energy devices in Galway Bay in 2006. The unique ¼ scale Galway Bay wave energy test site facilitates the open sea deployment of scaled prototypes of Wave Energy Converters (WEC’s) during the early stages of the development of their concept.

The pre-consented test-site is in a very accessible position and allows deployment of devices with less plant and machinery than would be required for a full-scale deployment. Ancillary power and communications are also available on site. Wave energy devices that have been successfully deployed at the test-site since its inception include Wavebob and OE buoy.               

Also incorporated within the test site area is the SmartBay project, run by the Marine Institute. This is a national research infrastructure project for oceanographic monitoring.