UK-based Renewable Energy Holdings' Perth-based subsidiary Seapower Pacific Ltd has taken a step towards full commercialisation of its CETO wave-power machine, announcing plans to install pre-commercialisation units today.
The full text of an announcement from Energy Minister Francis Logan is pasted below
A wave-power machine invented in Perth has successfully produced electricity and fresh water in a year-long trial on the seabed off Fremantle.
Energy Minister Francis Logan today witnessed the re-floating of the 10m prototype machine, named CETO after a Greek sea goddess.
"The success of this wave-power generator is a credit to its inventor, financial backers and the many people who have been working on the project," Mr Logan said.
"Once again, the innovation and ingenuity of Western Australians continues to amaze me.
"I am informed that the CETO prototype has met all design and concept challenges and successfully produced clean power and fresh water from the ocean waves."
The technology, which was invented by Perth businessman Alan Burns, allows a unit to sit on the seabed and use the power and movement of the waves to force highly pressured seawater to shore through a small pipe.
Once ashore, the water is used to drive a turbine generator to produce electricity.
A wave farm of 125 CETO units would be able to produce 18MW of electricity with no greenhouse gas emissions, enough for 10,000 households, or a desalination plant producing 45 billion litres of fresh drinking water each year.
Mr Logan said the CETO prototype would be replaced by CETO II pre-commercialisation units, which would be installed in 2007.
"The CETO technology is being developed by the Perth-based company Seapower Pacific and they are aiming for full commercialisation by 2010," the Minister said.
"I am very hopeful that wave energy will become an important addition to the suite of renewable energy generators in this State.
NOTE: The CETO technology is being developed by the UK-based Renewable Energy Holdings' Perth-based subsidiary Seapower Pacific. The Perth-based clean energy company Carnegie Corporation co-developed the technology before selling it to REH. Carnegie remains a shareholder in REH and has participation rights in future REH projects.
