Case Study: Perth Wave Energy Project

The Perth Wave Energy Project was a research and development project aimed at developing a commercially viable wave energy technology. The project was led by Carnegie Wave Energy Limited and was based in Western Australia.

The project involved the development of a wave energy converter called the CETO (named after a Greek sea goddess). The CETO is a submerged buoy that is anchored to the ocean floor, and which uses the movement of ocean waves to drive a pump. The pump then sends high-pressure water through a pipeline to an onshore facility, where it drives a turbine to generate electricity.

The Perth Wave Energy Project consisted of three stages. The first stage involved the deployment of a single CETO unit off the coast of Western Australia, which was connected to an onshore facility to test its performance. The second stage involved the deployment of three CETO units to generate up to 3MW of electricity. The third stage involved the deployment of up to 10MW of CETO units, which would be connected to the Western Australia electricity grid.

The Perth Wave Energy Project faced several technical and financial challenges during its development, and the project was eventually put on hold in 2018 due to funding constraints. However, the project was successful in demonstrating the viability of the CETO technology and in highlighting the potential of wave energy as a source of renewable energy.

The CETO technology has several advantages over other wave energy technologies, including its ability to operate in a wide range of wave conditions, its low visual impact on the ocean, and its use of subsea infrastructure to protect against storm damage.

The Perth Wave Energy Project has provided valuable insights into the technical, environmental, and financial aspects of wave energy, and has contributed to the ongoing development of wave energy technologies around the world.