Western Australian company, the Carnegie Corporation, is developing and trialling a new technology to harness ocean wave technology. By tethering a series of buoys to the ocean floor, high pressure sea water is delivered to the shore through a pipe. The water is used to generate emission-free electricity.
Carnegie estimated that 125 of its CETO pumps would be required to pump 45 gigalitres per year into plants to produce power for around 5,000 homes.
"With one of the most extensive coastlines in the world, and one that has been identified amongst the best potential sources of wave energy, Australia should be at the forefront in support and development of this industry," Melissa Park, Member for Fremantle was quoted as saying in About the House, a magazine published by the Australian House of Representatives.
"It is an example of the kind of innovation that will assist Australia in moving from a high-carbon to a low-carbon economy."
Carnegie and the Department of Defence signed a contract in January 2009 to investigate the feasibility of Carnegie's CETO system to generate electricity for the HMAS Stirling naval base in Western Australia. Two months later, Carnegie received a contract from the Victorian Government to undertake CETO trials at offshore sites in Portland, Warrnambool and Phillip Island.
