OES Annual Report 2012 - Ocean Energy Systems

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renewable energy technologies, including ocean energy. Applications in the form of expressions of interest
and “measures” aimed at promoting renewable energy in Australia can be made at any time. There are no
limits on funding amount requests or proportion of project costs sought from ARENA.
Relevant Documents released
Documents relevant to the development of ocean energy in Australia include the Energy White Paper (2.1)
and the CSIRO study “Ocean Renewable Energy: 2015 – 2050: An Analysis of Ocean Energy in Australia”.
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
Government Funded R&D
The majority of ocean energy research is done through the Australian university research system financed
largely by the Australian Research Council (ARC). A number of Universities are involved in ocean energy
research. These include the University of Tasmania’s Australian Maritime College, the University of
Wollongong, the University of New South Wales Water Research Laboratory, the University of Sydney and
spinoff companies from the University of Queensland testing facilities. This, and work by other universities,
focuses on a wide range of topics of general interest in the ocean energy domain.
CSIRO’s research has been focused on Australia’s ocean energy resource base and the economics of
inclusion of ocean energy in the technology suite in Australia out to 2050. This has been largely exploratory.
The development of specific ocean energy extraction devices has not, and is not likely to be in the future,
a priority for the organisation.
Industry Funded R&D
An industry association, Ocean Energy Australia (OEIA), has been formed to provide a level of coherence
to pilot and commercial scale developments in Australia 5 . OEIA currently has eleven industry members.
OEA’s vision is to “help Australia meet its clean energy future through a thriving and vibrant ocean energy
sector”. OEA aims to progress in three initial areas, namely a public education initiative, the preparation of
ocean energy development strategy and building best practice for ocean energy governance in Australia.
There are 19 companies active in Australia, varying in scale from concept development to demonstration to
commercial deployment. The industry sums invested are commensurate with the scale of achievement. Those
companies which have been successful in gaining government grants have had to invest at significant scale.
Participation in Collaborative International Projects
Several Australian companies have strong links with overseas partners assisting to develop their technologies.
These include Carnegie, Ocean Power Technology Australia and Oceanlinx.
At present, Australia is involved with the Ocean Energy Systems Implementing Agreement though the
CSIRO. Currently a temporary (observer status) agent is being used to maintain OES links until a permanent
Executive Committee member and alternative is appointed.
TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION
Operational Ocean Energy Projects
Currently Australia has no commercial ocean energy projects in operation. The largest project proposed to
date is a 62.5 MW Ocean Power Technologies Australia (OPTA) array (28 buoys) off the coast of Victoria.
OPTA aims to install the first three “Power” buoys by the end of 2013 and will complete the 28-buoy array
with “larger versions” of its modules by 2017. This is contingent on financial close for the first stages of the
5
http://oeia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/OEIA_2012-2013_Membership_Packet.pdf
ANNUAL
REPORT 2012