The government has also awarded $3.75 million to the University of Western Australia to establish and manage an associated Wave Energy Research Centre in Albany, Western Australia.
The Wave Energy Research Centre will bring together more than 30 researchers to support Carnegie’s ongoing research into wave, tidal and offshore wind energy.
Carnegie’s Managing Director, Dr. Michael Ottaviano, said, “Carnegie is delighted to be chosen as the recipient of the WA government grant to establish the Albany Wave Energy Project. Having a globally recognized Wave Energy Research Centre in Western Australia will also attract national and international interest from research and industry participants.”
In conjunction with this, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) Board has conditionally approved Carnegie’s request to move ARENA’s CETO 6 Project funding from Garden Island to Albany. Accordingly, the remaining $11.7 million grant funding from ARENA’s CETO 6 Project funding will also be available to deliver the Albany Wave Energy Project.
Carnegie will continue to use its Garden Island site for its own wave energy research and prototype testing as well as working with other wave energy developers at the site
The initial project phase involves delivery of a 1MW CETO 6 unit. Carnegie plans to follow this initial stage with a 20MW expansion which in could in turn lead to a 100MW CETO wave farm at the site.
The Albany Project also represents an opportunity for Australia to develop world leading industrial capacity in the design and development of wave projects.
For information: Carnegie Clean Energy
