TY - RPRT
TI - Ocean Wave Energy in Australia
AU - Wolgamot, H
AU - Ebeling, W
AU - Orszaghova, J
AU - Kurniawan, A
AU - Manasseh, R
AU - Kathy McInnes
AU - Sergiienko, N
AU - Marsh, P
AU - Trebilco, R
AU - Breakey, H
AU - Lyons, P
AU - Osman, P
AU - Jay, B
AU - Denniss, T
AU - Fulton, B
AU - Sprogis, K
AU - Frid, C
AU - Bossi, L
AU - Spencer-Cotton, A
AU - Sampford, C
AU - Melbourne-Thomas, J
AB - Ocean wave energy is undergoing a renaissance, with significant funding and effort worldwide devoted to this source of clean energy. This is driven by multiple factors, including the need for decarbonisation and renewable energy development in the face of climate change, the recognition of the diverse benefits of ocean wave energy as part of clean energy systems and a burgeoning Blue Economy.The establishment of a global offshore wind industry provides an example and opportunity for the development and scaling up of other types of offshore renewable energy generation, including wave energy. With the world’s largest national wave energy resource, Australia is uniquely well-placed to lead in this space, but is not keeping pace with global developments. Consequently, Australia is not realising the financial, social, and environmental benefits that could result from the development of a robust and sustainable ocean wave energy industry.Australia has the largest wave energy resource of any country in the world.The average power of the ocean waves crossing the perimeter of Australia’s continental shelf is estimated at around 300 GW, ten times Australia’s average rate of electricity consumption. The enormity of the national resource results from the extensive coastline directly facing the Southern Ocean. Persistent strong winds in this vast oceanic expanse concentrate energy in large waves which bring renewable energy towards the shores virtually continuously. The south and south-west mainland coastline and the south-west coast of Tasmania in particular experience the highest wave power levels, with exceptionally high-quality waves, exhibiting minimal intermittency and small extreme-to-mean wave height ratios, two characteristics essential for uninterrupted energy production.Wave energy is persistent and highly complementary to solar; it therefore has a role to play in the future energy mix. When combined with other renewables, wave energy decreases the cost of reaching a given level of dispatchability – the ability to guarantee power supply at a certain level. Results from Australia and around the world show that this is because combining the latest wave energy technology with wind and solar can cost-effectively reduce the need for energy storage. The example in Figure 2 shows a 50% reduction in the CapEx required to reach 0.6 dispatchability if wave is added to the energy mix, compared to solar and wind alone.Promising electricity markets for wave energy in Australia include:introducing more cost effective dispatchability into national and State grid networks;combining wind, wave and solar for towns (particularly on the south and west coasts) which could provide standalone power or more opportunities to trade dispatchable electricity on the spot market.Combined solar and wave systems can also provide standalone dispatchable power for remote communities on the east and west coasts.Wave energy can be a critical enabler in helping Australia achieve its net zero targets.Australia’s climate strategy focuses on achieving net zero emissions by 2050, with interim goals including a 43% reduction in emissions by 2030 and an 82% renewable electricity share by 2030.The strategy includes initiatives like the Powering Australia plan, which aims to expand renewable energy and create jobs.National Electricity Market (NEM) forecasts for 2050 suggest an enormous expansion in renewable energy capacity but also a shortfall in dispatchable power. Wave energy could therefore play a key role in future electricity grids.Wave energy has the potential to support Australia’s economy with world-class research and innovation capabilities and expertise, and a skilled workforce.Australia has many elements necessary for wave energy, including existing skills in the workforce for offshore infrastructure and renewable industries.High-level capabilities exist in Australia’s research and innovation sector (e.g. in universities, CSIRO, industry, etc). Examples from around the world have demonstrated an economic value of wave energy industries, especially in coastal regions.Wave energy has the potential to provide market and supply chain opportunities given the diversity in technologies, which range from grid connection to powering remote aquaculture facilities. Based on the few wave energy prototype projects completed, or currently conducted, Australia has an opportunity to leverage wave energy, supporting the growth of the AUD 118 billion Australia blue economy, especially in coastal regions, and utilise an existing skilled workforce to support fabrication, installations, and marine operations.Wave energy converters may also be a useful tool in providing coastal protection, at the same time as generating electricity.Waves are a key driver of coastal impacts due to flooding and erosion which will increase in frequency and intensity with climate change. Waves can be reduced or altered in a controlled manner by wave energy installations, protecting coastal communities and assets worth up to AUD 25 billion. Efforts are required to understand the interconnectivity between wave energy generation and coastal protection, as well as social acceptance to leverage this opportunity.Wave energy developments in Australia can lead best practice in environmental impact assessment and social and cultural engagement.Wave energy projects can leverage existing knowledge and data in environmental assessment and planning from other offshore developments.Potential environmental impacts will be entirely dependent on the type, scale and location of the wave energy development, and other activities present and planned in the area.Key areas likely to require some investigation in relation to smaller projects include interactions with seabed habitats and marine life during both construction and operation, particularly those associated with underwater noise, entanglement risk with mooring systems and potential interactions with other sea users. For larger developments, other potential interactions that may need to be addressed include those associated with changes in physical oceanography and displacement of sensitive species.Coordinated strategic environmental and social research and monitoring programs developed through collaboration between Government, regulators, industry, and academia can de-risk the approvals process and help facilitate the sustainable and equitable development of the sector. Early and ongoing engagement with local communities, including Indigenous Peoples in places of cultural significance, is critical to gaining and maintaining the Social and Cultural Licences to Operate.Meanwhile, Europe and other regions are advancing wave energy with support and policy, anticipating significant growth by 2050.With rapid technological advances and the International Energy Agency Ocean Energy Systems (IEA-OES, 2023) roadmap projecting 300 GW of ocean energy by 2050, the wave energy sector is set to expand significantly – creating ~680,000 jobs, boosting economic value by USD 340 billion, and reducing carbon emissions by ~500 MT p.a. worldwide. Both market pull and technology push mechanisms have been identified as necessary if wave energy is to play a substantial role by 2050.The EU leads in wave energy technology development, holding 44% of global patents and investing significantly in R&D, with projections for ocean energy contributing EUR 5.8 billion to the economy by 2030 and creating substantial economic activity and jobs by 2050.Strategic roadmaps at both EU and national levels guide efforts in wave energy. The EU’s offshore renewable energy strategy targets 100 MW of ocean energy by 2027, 1 GW by 2030, and 40 GW by 2050. The European Commission plans to support this through a robust legal framework, funding, and supply chain improvements.The UK predicts the installation of 6 GW of wave energy by 2050. This development could meet 15% of the UK’s electricity demand and contribute GBP 6 - 21 billion to the economy, creating up to 8,100 jobs by 2040. The UK holds 35% of Europe’s wave energy resource and has significantly invested in the sector, with EUR 32 million in public funding from 2022 to 2025.The US Government has substantially increased funding for ocean energy research, with a record USD 120 million allocated in 2023 and a total of USD 520 million since 2019, surpassing European investment. State-level support is also growing, with California and Oregon advancing ocean energy laws.Major technology developers span across Europe, the US, Australia, Canada, and Asia, showcasing a diverse range of concepts. Grid-connected test centres worldwide, such as those in the UK, US, and China, support technology trials under realworld conditions.Despite all its strategic advantages, Australia currently lacks the level of support and funding needed to match its immense potential.Since its inception in 2012, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has invested AUD 2.25 billion in 663 projects, with around AUD 44 million (<2%) allocated to ocean energy (wave and tidal) projects. Notable funded projects include the Australian Wave Energy Atlas, the Perth Wave Energy Project, and the UniWave200 King Island Project.The Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre has supported small-scale wave energy projects such as Carnegie Clean Energy’s MoorPower and the M4 Albany Wave Energy Demonstration Project. However, there are currently no dedicated roadmaps for wave energy in Australia and it is not included in the latest Integrated System Plan. There is a mismatch between the scale of Australia’s opportunity and the national funding support and effort in wave energy.Compared to other jurisdictions, the lack of a focused strategy represents a missed opportunity to diversify the renewable energy portfolio and enhance the Blue Economy. Rapid development of wave energy in Australia is possible.Several Australian agencies have recently issued their strategic plans for renewable energy technology development, emission reductions, job creation, and infrastructure upgrades. The national Sustainable Ocean Plan is currently being drafted.These initiatives show that significant momentum is building and that an opportunity to integrate wave energy within energy and coastal protection plans exists. No environmental, social or cultural barriers have been identified which would prevent a well-managed, sustainable and socially acceptable wave energy industry from developing. Streamlining and optimising regulatory and planning processes, including across jurisdictions, while providing incentives and early support to the wave energy industry, can accelerate the development of wave energy towards full commercialisation. View the Report here.View the Executive Summary here.
DA - 2024/09//
PY - 2024
SP - 237
PB - Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre (CRC)
UR - https://blueeconomycrc.com.au/project/ocean-wave-energy-in-australia
LA - English
KW - Marine Energy
KW - Wave
KW - Human Dimensions
ER -