Ocean power is an emerging form of renewable energy generation that has the potential to contribute significantly to the world’s energy needs.

Currently, France leads the world in ocean powered energy production, and has done so since 1966, with the commissioning of a 240 megawatt tidal barrage plant. Between 2007 and 2008, France produced 512 gigawatt hours (GWh) of ocean powered energy for market. Canada, France’s closest rival in the ocean power market, produced 35 GWh of ocean powered energy over the same period.

While Australia is home to world-class wave energy resources, there are no commercial scale ocean energy projects at an advanced stage of development.

Industry experts Michael Ottaviano of Carnegie Wave Energy, Colin Parbery of Oceanlinx, and Gilbert George of Ocean Power Technologies Australasia agree that ocean technology requires a stable policy and regulatory environment to encourage large-scale investment in new technology.

“It is inevitable that wave power will contribute to the country’s energy needs in the future, however we need to make this happen in the short to medium term and not miss this opportunity to other countries with more attractive incentives,” says Mr Ottaviano.

Nonetheless, the past decade has seen the successful development of some major projects around the country, buoyed by increasing government support.

Here we provide a snapshot of these projects and on how they are progressing.

Perth Wave Energy Project

Developer: Carnegie Wave Energy

Location: Garden Island, West Australia

Source: Wave energy

Technology: CETO units

How it works: CETO units operate submerged in the water, anchored to the ocean floor. They consist of an array of buoys tethered to seabed pump units, which are driven by the buoys as they move with the motion of the passing waves. The pumps drive pressurised water onshore via a pipeline, which powers hydro-electric turbines.

Expected capacity: 5 MW

Stage of development: Stage 1 has commenced.

Stage 2 of the project will be undertaken later in 2010, with construction and commissioning scheduled for 2011.

Port Fairy

Developer: BioPower Sytems

Location: Port Fairy, Victoria

Source: Wave Energy

Technology: bioWAVE™

How it works: The wave power system, bioWAVE™, is based on the swaying motion of sea plants in the presence of ocean waves. The hydrodynamic interaction of the buoyant blades with the oscillating flow field is designed for maximum energy absorption.

Expected capacity: 250 kW

Stage of development: On hold pending further capital raising.

Portland

Developer:Ocean Power Technologies Australasia

Location: Portland, Victoria

Source: Wave energy

Technology: Ocean Power Technologies PowerBuoy® wave generation system. How it works: The rise and fall of the waves offshore causes the buoy to move freely up and down. The resultant mechanical stroking is converted via a power take-off to drive an electrical generator. The generated power is transmitted ashore via an underwater power cable.

Expected capacity: 19 MW

Stage of development: Planning, approval and finance underway. Development of the project is expected to take at least 3 years after issue of approvals. Mk3PC, Port Kembla - Oceanlinx.tif

Mk3PC - Port Kembla

Developer: Oceanlinx

Location: Port Kembla, New South Wales

Source: Wave Energy

Technology: Oceanlinx Oscilating Water Columns and Denniss-Auld turbines How it works: Oceanlinx Oscilating Water Column chambers narrow so that air passing through the turbine is accelerated to its highest velocity as it passes the turbine. The blades of the Denniss-Auld turbine oscillate with the airflow through the chamber. The turbine converts energy on both the up and down stroke.

Capacity: 200 kW

Stage of development: The Mark 3 Pre-Commercial was installed at Port Kembla on 26 February 2010. The full scale version is currently in development.

San Remo

Developer: Atlantis Resources Corporation

Location: San Remo, Victoria

Source: Tidal energy

Technology: Nereus™ turbine

How it works: Large-scale tidal Nereus turbine farms collect energy with the inflow and outflow of the tide. The energy is then sent directly to the grid.

Capacity: 15 kW Stage of development: Commissioned 2006

King Island

Developer: BioPower Systems and Hydro Tasmania

Location: King Island, Tasmania

Source: Wave Energy

Technology: bioWAVE™

How it works: See BioPower’s Port Fairy project.

Expected capacity: 250 kW

Stage of development: Pilot versions of the wave and tidal systems are in development.

Nautilis Prototype - Moreton Bay

Developer: Advanced Wave Power

Location: Moreton Bay, Queensland

Source: Wave Energy

Technology: Floating Wave Power Technology

How it works: An array of interlinked Oscillating Water Columns (OWC) within a generator act like a combustion engine, with water oscillating inside the chamber playing the role of piston. Each OWC unit contains a high-pressure outflow valve and a low-pressure inflow valve that open and close independently depending on the position of that unit within the wave cycle. The generator is connected to a single air turbine which is rotated by the energy produced.

Capacity: 3 kW

Stage of development: Commissioned June 2009