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| wave energy |
It is estimated that
harnessing a small portion of marine energy could solve the world’s energy
crisis to a great extent, and Australia’s vast coastline alone is estimated to
hold the potential to produce four times the nation’s power needs, claims a new
report by energy experts GlobalData.
The new report* states that the Southern Ocean is considered one
of the most consistent sources of wave energy in the world, and Australia has
been busy in the marine energy market over recent years in efforts to benefit
from this.
The Renewable Energy Target (RET) set by the Australian
government aims to generate 20% (approximately 45,000 GWh) of Australia’s
electricity from renewable sources by 2020. Harnessing the power of the oceans
can help Australia to reach its targets and meet energy demands more
effectively.
The Western Australian state government is offering $10m in
grants for the development of sustainable low-emission technologies to reduce
Western Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. Australia’s Renewable Energy
Development Program (REDP) has also pledged $435m to accelerate the
commercialization and deployment of renewable energy technologies, which
include ocean energy.
Port MacDonnell in South Australia, Portland, Warrnambool and
Philip Island in Victoria, Albany and Geraldton in Western Australia, and parts
of the Tasmanian and New South Wales coastlines are optimal sites for wave
energy plants in Australia. Most of the projects currently under development
are based around Tasmania and Victoria.
Companies in Australia are conducting R&D activities to
develop financially viable marine energy technology in order to move close to
commercialization, with Oceanlinx and Carnegie Corporation installing
demonstration projects in Australia. In Australia, many universities are
engaged in developing marine technology, including the Water Research
Laboratory in the University of New South Wales, the Australian Maritime
College in the University of Tasmania, the University of Wollongong and the
University of Sydney.
The kinetic energy of the tides along the Australia coasts has
an estimated 678 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of power generation potential, with
Western Australia and Queensland ruling with potential 415 GWh and 126 GWh
respectively. The waves along the Australian coasts have an estimated 963 GWh
of kinetic power generation potential, with Western Australia once again
providing the most promise.
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