Published:
30
July
2012
Wave power could supply 10 per cent of energy needs by 2050
A study by CSIRO has found that the waves in the ocean could supply about 10 per cent of Australia’s electricity by 2050. This is equivalent to powering a city the size of Melbourne.
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Australia’s coast line in the Southern Ocean has the best wave resources. Particular areas to note are the west coast of Tasmania, the southern ocean in Victoria and south-west Western Australia. Credit:
CSIRO
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Ian Cresswell, Director of the CSIRO Wealth from Oceans Flagship, said understanding the potential of this clean, sustainable energy source was important for the nation.
‘Given the potential of ocean energy and the fact that it's a very new technology, CSIRO wanted to understand what is the sustainable level at which this resource could be used for energy supply and whether it could be competitive with other energy technologies,’ Mr Cresswell said.
‘[This report] is a first for ocean renewable energy in Australia.’
The report – Ocean renewable energy: 2015-2050 – is aimed at the ocean energy industry, government and investors.
Key findings from the study include:
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Although wave energy could supply about 10 per cent of our energy by 2050, broader economic, technological, environmental and societal challenges will ultimately determine its place in Australia’s future energy mix.
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The areas that could benefit from wave energy technology include Perth, the southern coastline and to a lesser extent the east coast of Australia. Tidal technology could supply niche areas such as north east Tasmania and the Kimberley region in Western Australia.
The study included an analysis of the resource, cost to market, technologies and future take-up projections by oceanographers, engineers, economists.
Source: CSIRO
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