Islands to get surge of wave power

Launceston Examiner
Tuesday 15/4/2008 Page: 3

A SHARK'S swimming motion has been harnessed for wave and tide power generators bound for Tasmania's islands. Australian Maritime College towing tank researchers at Newnham are finishing tests on the prototypes before final designs are decided this year. BioPower Systems chief executive Timothy Finnigan said yesterday the units could eventually replace diesel generators on Flinders Island and King island.

Dr Finnigan said the AMC towing tank was vital to development work of the NSW-based company because it accurately reproduced sea conditions for the islands. He said a wave-powered generator would be installed underwater at King and Flinders would get a tidal power system, in cooperation with Hydro Tasmania. Dr Finnigan said the company observed marine animals and plants for design clues and the tide generator copied a swimming shark.

A fin, like a shark fin, moved in the water to produce a swimming motion, which drove a turbine to produce power. He said the prototypes would be installed next year and commercial units should be ready in 2010, a $10.3 million project. Dr Finnigan said the generators would be cheaper than diesel and comparable to wind power and invisible from the sea surface. The test models are about a 20th the size of the 25m wave prototype and the 20m-long tide prototype to be installed off the islands.