Portland Observer
Wednesday 17/10/2007 Page: 1
CLEAN energy technology company Carnegie Corporation has its sights set on Portland as a potential site for a $500 million wave energy generation and desalination plant. The company is the third to have plans for proposed wave energy developments in the ocean off Portland, with Oceanlinx and Ocean Power Technologies also having active proposals in the area.
Carnegie is also investigating multiple sites in Western Australia, South Australia and New South Wales for the plant. It is expected to make a decision on where to locate a demonstration plant later this year. The company is hoping to produce up to 50 megawatts of power and 50 gigalitres of fresh water a year with its CETO (Cylindrical Energy Transfer Oscillating) units.
The CETO units would act as a pump with submerged buoys harnessing ocean energy to drive the units which pump seawater at high pressures onshore to create base load electricity. "At the same time, the seawater can also be desalinated via reverse-osmosis to create zero-emission freshwater," the company said. An estimated 300 CETO units would occupy two hectares of seafloor to produce the power and water.
Glenelg Shire mayor Gilbert Wilson welcomed Carnegie's actions. "Wave energy is taking off as Portland starts to establish its credentials as the nation's renewable energy hub," he said. "I am sure any freshwater produced would be welcome, particularly in the hinterland." Meanwhile, blade manufacturing company Vestas is expected to be asked to "please explain" after revelations it plans to open a manufacturing facility at Colarado, USA, to produce 40 metre blades.
Vestas will close its blade factory in Portland on December 19, putting 130 workers on the unemployment scrapheap in the process. However, one of the reasons given for the Vestas closure in Portland was that the wind energy market had moved on since the company established in Portland and there was no longer any demand for the A40 blades. Vestas Wind Systems group communications vice-president Peter Wenzel Kruse confirmed late last week the Colarado blades would be the same as those produced in Portland. The facility at Colarado is expected to employ about 600 people.
The Member for South West Coast Denis Napthine said Vestas owed it to the Portland community to provide some answers. Dr Napthine also said the State Government had to come clean on what type of deal it did with Vestas to bring the company to Portland. It is expected a second meeting between Vestas management, Dr Napthine and the Member for Wannon David Hawker will be held in the near future.
State Industry Minister Theo Theophanous said the Victorian Government had done everything in its power to support the Vestas operation in Portland and was a strong supporter of the renewable energy industry more broadly. "This is a clear demonstration of what can happen when industry is provided with no certainty from a Federal level - companies such as this can be enticed to explore overseas markets," he said.
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