New wave of power in energy market

Adelaide Advertiser
Tuesday 7/10/2008 Page: 10

SOUTH Australia's coastline has the potential to supply the state with its base-load power, a report says. The independent report, commissioned by clean power developer Carnegie Corporation, has found at least 35 per cent of Australia's, and 170 per cent of SA's, current base-load power needs could be generated through a new wave power technology known as CETO.

Australia has a potential near-shore wave energy resource of about 171,000 megawatts, four times the country's installed power generation capacity. Carnegie Corporation managing director Michael Ottaviano said the report supported Carnegie Corporation's view "that Australia has the world's best wave energy resource". Energy would be generated through the CETO technology that uses submerged units on the sea floor.

Carnegie Corporation is looking at 17 sites, including the Limestone Coast, for potential wave farm developments. Carnegie Corporation chief executive officer Greg Allen was in Adelaide last week to discuss the potential for this new technology with the Transport, Energy and Infrastructure Department. "This is the first step in the process to get to work on the project - to give meaningful basis for funding," Mr Allen said. 'There is a phenomenal wave energy resource in SA.

"Wave energy will be an important part of the mix of renewable energy. An important part of this resource and technology is that it has zero (carbon) emissions." Carnegie Corporation is aiming for commercial project work to start by 2010 and for full operation by 2020.