Phillip Island & San Remo Advertiser
Wednesday 9/4/2008 Page: 15
Construction is underway near the Newhaven Jetty as Atlantis Resources Corporation Operations (ARC Operations) prepare to conduct a new benchmarking trial of its tidal energy technology. It follows a previous trial of the technology at the same site in 2006 and 2007, Company spokesman, Cameron Hamilton, said the new trials required larger infrastructure to accommodate a bigger turbine unit,
"After the last trials we looked at the successes and improved the technology said Mr. Hamilton,"The new turbine will be used in the new round of testing," A platform, to be located off the wharf, will hold part of the turbine,"Construction started last week; we have finished most of the noisy aspects." "The installation will continue for the next few weeks." The tidal trials are expected to continue for an extended period of time,"We are looking at a longer period than the last trial; we want to make sure that the technology works consistently and accurately," said Mr. Hamilton,
"We hope to gather all the information by the end of the year," Mr Cameron said the previous tidal trial was judged a success,"We learnt from the last trial, we've improved the technology, now we are looking for testing in a real life environment," The company will be testing the generation of electricity as tidal movements flow through the underwater turbine, Newhaven is considered an ideal site to test the technology because of its higher than average tidal flows. Once the trial is up and running, the project is not expected to affect public access to the Jetty or have any adverse affect on the local natural environment,
The trial site, adjacent to the Newhaven Wharf, has been chosen to maximise public safety and mitigate risk to waterway users and water craft in the immediate area, The trial has been approved by relevant Victorian Government agencies, the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and Parks Victoria, as well as the Bass Coast Shire Council, The company will be working in close consultation with these groups throughout the trial to ensure maximum public safety and protection of the local natural environment. Approvals have been granted for five years.
They will pay commercial rental to DSE for use of the site during the trial to help fund ongoing management of the coast, ARC Operations completed a water quality monitoring program during the previous trial and found the technology to have no detectable impact on the parameters measured, Ongoing environmental monitoring will be a key feature of the new trial, Atlantis Chief Executive Tim Cornelius said the company has returned to Newhaven for the next phase of the project.
"In our earlier trial we received enormous cooperation from the Newhaven and San Remo community, who showed a great deal of Interest and support for the project,"' "We are looking forward to our partnership with the community continuing," said Mr Cornelius. He apologised for any inconvenience caused during the installation,"Once Installation is complete, we envisage the trial will proceed without causing Interruption to the day to day activities in the bay."
"ARC Operations has worked with the relevant government agencies and stakeholder groups to minimise 'disruption to the community and watercraft users during the trial." "Being in the renewable energy development business, the protection of the natural environment is paramount for us." "We have the strongest environmental protections in place and all the components of the technology are environmentally sound," "In our previous trial and preliminary testing for the new trial, we have not detected any impact of the technology on the natural environment and we will have environmental monitoring in place to ensure that continues to be the case."
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