A study by CSIRO has found that the waves in the ocean could supply about 10 per cent of Australia’s electricity by 2050.

 

Ian Cresswell, Director CSIRO Wealth from Oceans Flagship said understanding the potential of this clean, sustainable energy source was important for CSIRO.

 

"Assessing the opportunities and challenges from resource to the market is a first for ocean renewable energy in Australia. Given the potential of ocean energy and the fact that it's a very new technology, CSIRO wanted to understand what is the sustainable level at which this resource could be used for energy supply and whether it could be competitive with other energy technologies," Mr Cresswell said.

 

The report, Ocean renewable energy: 2015-2050 will inform the ocean energy industry, government and investors about the challenges and potential for the technology. Key findings include:

  1. Although wave energy could supply about 10 per cent of our energy by 2050, there are many economic, technological, environmental and societal challenges that will determine its place in Australia’s future energy mix.
  2. The areas that could benefit from wave energy technology include Perth, the southern coastline and to a lesser extent the east coast of Australia. Tidal technology could supply niche areas such as north east Tasmania and the Kimberley region in Western Australia.
  3.  

The study was carried out by the Wealth from Oceans and Energy Transformed Flagships and included an analysis of the resource, cost to market, technologies and future take-up projections by oceanographers, engineers, economists. The study also engaged the ocean energy industry and related sectors.

 

Download the report from: Ocean renewable energy