The Western Australian Government’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has awarded $15.75 million grant funding to Carnegie’s CETO technology and Albany wave energy project.
In addition, the WA Government has awarded $3.75 million to the University of Western Australia to establish and manage an associated Wave Energy Research Centre in Albany, Western Australia.
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. With wave energy, we have the potential to take advantage of our local technology and resource advantage to build an industry we can commercialize and export globally. Having a globally recognized Wave Energy Research Centre in Western Australia will also attract national and international interest from research and industry participants.”
In parallel, 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, subject to the signing of the detailed documentation. Accordingly, the remaining $11.7m 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 company noted.
The Albany wave energy project will involve the design, manufacture and install of a CETO 6 unit in Carnegie’s existing licence area offshore from Torbay and Sandpatch in Albany during the 2019/2020 summer weather window.
In addition, the project will also deliver common user infrastructure at the Albany site which Carnegie will make available for other wave energy industry developers once the CETO 6 project is complete.