 Ocean Power Technologies (Australasia) Pty Ltd (OPTA ) is developing and installing an initial 20kW wave-energy generation system, to be moored to the seabed several kilometres off the Victorian coast near Portland.
The wave energy converter, called the Powerbuoy(tm), is fully-submerged and resembles a large ocean buoy. It will generate renewable electricity for transmission via submerged cable to the grid, where it can be sold to retail customers.
Electricity from an installation of multiple PowerBuoy(tm) units is expected to cost around 7 to 12 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) to run compared to the 25 to 50 cents per kWh for diesel-fired generation. This also compares favourably with other renewable sources of energy.
The unit is estimated to have a useful life of at least 30 years.
For Ocean Power Technologies PDF Report on wave technology. Labels: alternative energy, wave power |
