The selection of the site follows extensive feasibility studies carried out around Western Australia over the past twelve months by Carnegie in conjunction with independent technical experts.

The waters to the west of Garden Island near Perth and Rockingham were found to have an optimum combination of technical and economic factors, including wave resource characteristics, environmental factors, pipeline route options, grid connectivity, water depth, scale of plant and deployment and servicing logistics.

Subject to the receipt of all approvals the project will have a capacity of 5 MW, enough to power approximately 3,500 households and save over 500,000 tonnes in carbon emissions over the life of the project.

Carnegie Managing Director and CEO Michael Ottaviano said that the project will be the first time Western Australia’s abundant wave resource has been harnessed to produce zero-emission renewable energy.

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“It is satisfying that the project utilises a home grown technology developed by a local company. The demonstration of Carnegie’s CETO technology off Perth will allow larger scale Carnegie wave projects to be deployed around the State, across Australia and internationally,” said Mr Ottaviano.

Subject to the finalisation of contracts the project will use Carnegie’s $12.5 million Low Emissions Energy Development grant from the Western Australia Government announced earlier this year, which is paid on a milestone basis and requires $1 for $3 in matched funding.

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 submerged buoys is tethered to seabed pump units that are driven as the buoys move with the motion of passing waves, pressurising water delivered ashore via a pipeline to power zero-emission hydroelectric turbines.

In other news Carnegie Chairman, founder and inventor has announced his retirement from the company. He will be replaced by Grant Mooney, a non-executive director of the company.