Wave & Tidal

Australia’s near shore wave energy resources
could create around four times the nation’s
current national power needs.

Source: The Power to Change: Australia’s Wave Energy Future, WWF, Carnegie Corporation, 2009

The Southern Ocean is one of the world’s largest and most consistent wave energy resources and could generate at least 35 per cent of our baseload power needs. Source: The Power to Change: Australia’s Wave Energy Future, WWF, Carnegie Wave Energy, 2009

Regions such as Port MacDonnell in South Australia, Portland, Warrnambool and Philip Island in Victoria, Albany and Geraldton in Western Australia and parts of the Tasmanian and NSW coastlines are optimal sites for wave energy plants.

Internationally wave power is still a relatively new technology and most projects are at the prototype or testing phase.

France has led the world with its tidal project at the Rance River operating since 1966, and currently delivering 600GWhs. The total current world capacity for tidal power is estimated at 300MW, according to the Renewables Global Status Report by REN21.