Carnegie Announces Design Completion for Perth Wave Energy Project (Australia)

Wave energy developer Carnegie Wave Energy Limited announced the completion of the basis of detailed design for its Perth Wave Energy Project (the Perth Project) at Garden Island and the corresponding fourth milestone payment from the Government of Western Australia.

The basis of detailed design of the CETO power generation system for the Perth Project includes the CETO units, offshore foundations, pipelines, onshore power generation facility and grid connection.

The Project size has been financially and technically optimised through the design process and will now be delivered in two separately commissioned stages. The first stage will have a peak rated capacity of 2MW followed by a second stage of 3MW, for a total of 5MW peak rated capacity. Staged delivery allows Carnegie to demonstrate system integration, grid-connection and to deliver first power revenues in less time and with significantly less capital than a stand-alone 5MW single stage.

Completion of the basis of detailed design triggered a $145,000 milestone completion payment under Carnegie’s grant with the Government of Western Australia and this payment has now been received. Carnegie has now drawn down approximately $2.8m (exclusive of GST) of the $12.5 million grant with the outstanding amount available for draw down over the remainder of the 5MW project. The completion of this milestone allows the Project to progress to the next and final stage of detailed design.

The Perth Project is the most advanced wave power project in Australia and one of a small number of project options currently being considered by Carnegie globally as the location for its first commercial demonstration project.

Carnegie’s first grid-connected commercial demonstration project will deliver the Company its first project based revenue through the sale of electricity.

About CETO

The CETO system distinguishes itself from other wave energy devices by operating out of sight and being anchored to the ocean floor. An array of fully submerged buoys is tethered to seabed pump units. The buoys move in harmony with the motion of the passing waves, driving the pumps which in turn pressurise water that is delivered ashore via a pipeline.

On shore, high-pressure water is used to drive hydroelectric turbines, generating zero-emission electricity. The high-pressure water can also be used to supply a reverse osmosis desalination plant, replacing greenhouse gas emitting electrically driven pumps usually required for such plants.

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Offshore WIND staff, December 21, 2011; Image: carnegiewave