Carnegie: Design of Next Generation CETO 6 Unit Underway

Carnegie Wave Energy Limited provides an update on its CETO 6 project that will follow the Perth Wave Energy Project which is currently under construction at Garden Island, Western Australia.

As mentioned in Carnegie’s most recent quarterly activities report, the design of the next generation CETO 6 unit is underway. The CETO 6 unit will be at least twice the power capacity of the current 240kW CETO 5 unit being used in the Perth Project. The CETO 6 technology will feature further efficiency improvements, offering a significant step change in the cost of generation from CETO wave energy. Further details on the design of the CETO 6 unit will be released shortly.

Progress has been made on identifying and assessing potential CETO 6 project sites, both in Australia and internationally, with four sites now shortlisted – two in Australia and two international. Carnegie is now in discussions with Governments regarding grant funding opportunities.

An initial CETO 6 project would demonstrate the functionality of the new CETO 6 design in an array, similar to the CETO 5 project. This would then allow a subsequent commercial CETO 6 project of greater scale to be deployed economically at a range of sites currently under development as part of Carnegie’s project pipeline.

Garden Island Expansion

As the location for Carnegie’s current CETO 5 project, Garden Island in Western Australia offers a known environment for the deployment of a CETO 6 project via an expansion. Carnegie’s existing Power Purchase Agreement includes capacity for a CETO 6 expansion.

A CETO 6 project would be located off Garden Island, in deeper water west of the current PWEP site and beyond Five Fathom Bank. This site offers a higher energy site with the potential for further commercial expansion.

Rottnest Island

Carnegie has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Rottnest Island Authority to carry out a feasibility study to assess the potential of CETO for power and water generation on the Island.

Rottnest Island is located 18km off the coast of Fremantle, Western Australia, and is a popular local holiday destination well known for its pristine environment. The Island is managed by the Rottnest Island Authority (RIA) which has been investigating the development of sustainable power and water production by using the renewable energy and thereby reducing its dependence on fossil fuels imported to the island.

The feasibility study would look at the technical, environmental and social factors associated with locating the CETO 6 project on Rottnest Island. The Island has a high energy wave resource and currently is majority supplied from expensive diesel which has to be transported to the Island via barge from the mainland. Important environmental and social factors will be included in the study including the fact that the Island is an A-Class Nature Reserve, hosts important archaeology and is a popular holiday destination.

Reunion Island

Reunion Island is the site of the EDF and DCNS CETO 4 project. French power utility EDF EN and French maritime defence specialist DCNS manufactured a modified CETO unit in 2011 which was delivered to Reunion Island in 2012.

Carnegie has recently been informed by its CETO licensee and joint venture partner, EDF EN, that the most recent installation of the CETO prototype on Reunion Island has proved unsuccessful. The CETO unit being used on Reunion Island is a modified form of the CETO 3 technology design from 2010, compared with the CETO 5 technology generation currently being constructed by Carnegie for the Perth Wave Energy Project in Australia and the CETO 6 generation currently under development.

EDF and DCNS will now decide whether to continue with deployment of the CETO 4 unit or focus efforts on a commercial CETO deployment. The Reunion Island site offers a high energy wave resource in a remote location with a high local power tariff that could be ideal for a CETO 6 demonstration array or a subsequent commercial CETO 6 project.

United Kingdom site

Carnegie has identified two potential CETO 6 project sites in the United Kingdom and is currently in discussion with the owners about gaining access for the purposes of a CETO 6 project. It is premature to disclose the preferred location at this stage, however, either option offers a high energy wave resource and existing grid connected infrastructure. Due to its UK location, it would also earn a wave energy tariff of £305/MWh, or over 50c/kWh through Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) or equivalent.

Press Release, January 28, 2014; Image: Carnegie