Australia: Carnegie Signs Key Wave Energy Agreement with Department of Defence

Wave energy developer, Carnegie Wave Energy Limited announced the signing of key agreements with the Australian Department of Defence unveiled today by the Australian Prime Minister, the Honourable Julia Gillard, and the Federal Member for Brand, the Honourable Gary Gray, at Carnegie’s Wave Energy Research facility at Fremantle, Western Australia.

Australian Department of Defence (Defence) and Carnegie have signed formal power supply and grid connection agreements for the Perth Wave Energy Project on Garden Island, the base of HMAS Stirling, Australia’s largest naval facility. These agreements govern the exclusive purchase of all the electricity generated from the Perth Wave Energy Project and the connection of the wave project into the local HMAS Stirling electrical infrastructure.

Carnegie’s Managing Director and CEO, Dr Michael Ottaviano, said today, “It is significant, in light of current efforts by international navies to increase their renewable energy mix such as the US Navy, for the Australian Department of Defence and Royal Australian Navy to be supporting the development of emerging clean technologies like Carnegie’s CETO through the purchase of electricity.”

“We greatly appreciate the efforts of the Defence Support Group in facilitating our development efforts along with the support of the Australian and Western Australian Governments in co-funding the Project.”

The signing of this licence marks the end of a rigorous assessment process by Defence and symbolises their ongoing commitment to reducing their environmental footprint and supporting local industry. Whilst providing HMAS Stirling with a source of renewable green power, the project would also contribute to Defence and Commonwealth greenhouse gas reduction targets.

Carnegie has been working with Defence since the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in December 2008. Since then Carnegie has successfully demonstrated the CETO technology at large scale in the ocean offshore of Garden Island. At the same time, Carnegie has significantly developed the Project design and secured 50% government funding for the project. The Project received funding from the Government of Western Australia through the Low Emissions Energy Development Program as well as from the Australian Government as part of the Emerging Renewables Program.

Carnegie is now focussed on progressing detailed design of the Project with construction and first power to the grid targeting the end of 2013. Carnegie is currently continuing to carry out stakeholder consultation to seek feedback on all aspects of the project as well as seeking the various approvals and permits required to construct and operate the project.

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Offshore WIND staff, July 16, 2012; Image: carnegie