Bunbury hosting renewable wave energy trial
Andrew Elstermann
May 5, 2016, 3 p.m
Wave energy is currently being trialled in Bunbury with sustainable energy technology company Protean Wave building a demonstration wave farm off the coast of Bunbury.
An array of wave energy converter buoys make up the farm. The buoys generate power as they bob up and down in the water.
This is the company’s first big test of its technology with hopes the data provided will allow them to create a fully-operating commercial version in the future.
Protean Wave managing director Bruce Lane told the Bunbury Mail three buoys have be placed in the water to start with although their license extends to 30.
“We are starting with three and we will learn a lot from that,” Mr Lane said.
“The trial can run until September and we would like the buoys to survive the weather events, which we expect them to, and that we can show there isn’t excessive wear on them after an extended period of use.
“We also want to see that they produce a good, consistent stream and what the optimal cost of operation would be.”
Mr Lane said the South West town was chosen as the test site because Bunbury Port have proven very helpful in facilitating the trial and the location is great because it is exposed to Southern Ocean waves.
The buoys are designed to generate up to 1.5 kilowatts of power which could one day drive a motor to power a generator or power a water pump to drive a desalination unit, producing fresh water.
Mr Lane said the process from idea to development to launching the buoy has taken 10 years and it is exciting to now see what the results will show.
“It has been a long process and the deployment marks a significant milestone for the company and represents many years of hard work and perseverance,” he said.
When asked if wave energy could one day be the world’s number one source of electricity generation, Mr Lane was optimistic but reasonable.
“I think it’s a big call to say that is possible but there is certainly enough power in the world’s oceans to say it could one day be true,” he said.
“There are certain locations where that will be challenging and cost will be a factor.
“But with around half of the world’s population living by the sea and wave power more consistent and forecastable than other renewable sources, anything is possible.”
Protean Wave are also working on a deployment at the Cal Poly Research Pier in California.
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