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Wave Power Put to the Test
An innovative new technology with the potential to supply significant quantities of clean, renewable energy will soon be anchored in the ocean off Rous Head. A demonstration unit of the locally developed CETO wave energy technology was launched last month and has the potential to create a new industry for Western Australia.

After extensive onshore testing the novel CETO wave energy technology, developed by Seapower Pacific Pty Ltd in Fremantle, will undergo its first ocean testing. The quarter-size unit will be tested for a period of up to two years from July this year, providing proof of the pumping system, materials durability and environmental impacts.

Wave energy is potentially a vast source of renewable energy. The power currently lying almost totally untapped in the world’s oceans is thought to be sufficient to supply most of global energy requirements. Harnessing some of this power in systems such as the one to be tested in Perth is therefore of great interest around the world. The global interest in the technology is demonstrated by the recent acquisition of the project by London based Renewable Energy Holdings plc from the initial investors. The fact that there are no greenhouse gas emissions associated with generating electricity from such systems makes them even more attractive.

The locally developed CETO wave energy technology will typically be anchored to the seabed about one kilometre off shore in water of 10-20 metres depth. It produces pressurised seawater via wave action on a specially designed plate. The seawater is pumped to shore where the energy in the water is converted to electricity through a standard Pelton turbine and generator. Because of the high pressure of the seawater the system can also produce the valuable by-product desalinated water through reverse osmosis.

The system is unique because the CETO unit is located on the seabed but the electrical generating and distribution equipment is located onshore. This eliminates the need for expensive marine qualified power generation equipment. The technology has increased immunity to storms and is self-tuning to the tide and wave amplitude. In addition, it has no visual impact and is not expected to interfere with sea vessel navigation.

For more information on the CETO wave energy technology and testing, please contact Mr Dennis Kelly of Seapower Pacific Pty Ltd on denniskelly@seapowerpacific.com.