Australian Wave Energy developer Carnegie Wave Energy Limited (ASX:CWE) is pleased to announce it has been granted an investigation licence and option to lease from the Victorian Government for three potential wave energy sites off Victoria at Portland, Warrnambool and Phillip Island.
• First wave energy company to be awarded Victorian Wave Energy Site Licences;
• Adds to WA & SA sites as possible Commercial Project Locations.
Tenure was awarded by the Victorian Minister for Environment and Climate Change under section 138 of the Land Act 1958, to explore the potential for wave energy at the three offshore sites with a view to developing a commercial demonstration facility in Victoria.
Carnegie has been working consistently with the Victorian Government since 2008 to secure seabed tenure and will now be progressing site investigations. Carnegie has also provided advice to the Victorian government in relation to the Victoria Government Marine Energy Policy which is currently being developed and aimed at encouraging new renewable energy.
Carnegie had previously been awarded consents under the Coastal Management
Act 1995 to undertake marine surveys and trials at the three locations.
Carnegie Wave Energy’s Managing Director Dr Michael Ottaviano said, “We are pleased to have progressed our consents to licences and now have a clear pathway to lease an area of seabed for a commercial project. These sites add to our Australian commercial site pipeline in WA and SA.”
According to a report by RPS MetOcean commissioned by Carnegie, Victoria has an estimated near-shore wave energy resource of 18,000MW – almost double the state’s total installed power generation capacity. Furthermore, taking into account the proximity of current power transmission infrastructure, approximately 20% of Victoria’s current power needs could be met by harnessing wave energy.
About CETO
The CETO system distinguishes itself from other wave energy devices by operating out of sight and being anchored to the ocean floor. An array of submerged buoys is tethered to seabed pump units. The buoys move in harmony with the motion of the passing waves, driving the pumps which in turn pressurise water that is delivered ashore via a pipeline.
High-pressure water is used to drive hydroelectric turbines, generating zero-emission electricity. The high-pressure water can also be used to supply a reverse osmosis desalination plant, replacing greenhouse gas emitting electrically driven pumps usually required for such plants.
