City looks at wave power motion

Albany Advertiser
Tuesday 15/4/2008 Page: 3

WAVE energy for Albany will be one step closer to reality if a feasibility study is given the nod by the Albany City Council tonight. And as an added bonus, desalinated water produced as a by-product of the technology could supply much-needed water to the region. Carnegie Corporation, the proponents of the CETO wave energy feasibility study, has sought the support of Council to conduct exclusive research into a site at Sand Patch in Albany.

CETO technology, named after a Greek ocean goddess, uses submerged buoys attached to seabed pump units to generate desalinated water and drive hydroelectricity turbines. Wave energy is a zero emission source of power, and can produce dramatically higher amounts of energy than wind turbines. The Council will vote on whether to provide Carnegie Corporation with a three-year exclusivity option at a fee of $1 a year. At the Council agenda briefing held last Tuesday, chief executive Andrew Hammond said the $1 fee would act as an incentive to bring the company to the region.

"On the issue of the option, they won't actually be using the land, but they need the land to be able to do some feasibility studies," Mr Hammond said. "This recommendation is because of the opportunities the project provides for Albany and as a gesture to say we welcome you (Carnegie) in good faith, and we want you to come to Albany," he said.

"The valuation of the option is not the valuation of the land, but my view is that because we aren't going to be providing any service, and the company will be spending a significant amount of money to develop the site, the $1 option is appropriate." At the end of the three-year lease, Carnegie Corporation would have the option to lease the land for a 20- year period through a commercial lease rental. Carnegie Corporation did not wish to comment on the project.