WSE aims to produce wave energy in Tasmania for $76/MWh
Australian energy firm Wave Swell Energy plans to install a 200 kW wave energy system on the east of King Island in Tasmania before deploying a full-size 1 MW device on the west side. The initial installation is due to be completed by the end of 2018 and to start pre-commercial testing. The project will determine if the technology can generate power for less than AUD100/MWh ($76/MWh) when the 1 MW project is completed.
Australian company Wave Swell Energy Ltd (WSE) plans to install a 200-kW wave energy device on the eastern side of King Island in Tasmania, where the wave climate is “more benign”.

The move is part of preparations for the deployment of a full-sized, 1-MW version of the device on the west coast of the island.

The firm said on its website that it expects to install the 200-kW unit by the end of next year to bridge the gap between the tank testing and commercial phases of the technology's development. It will use the data from the smaller project to validate whether the technology is able to generate power for under AUD 100 (USD 76/EUR 64.4) per MWh when 1 MW of units are installed as part of a multi-device wave farm.

The project also gives WSE the chance to fine-tune the operation of the device in an easily accessible location, it said.

(AUD 1.0 = USD 0.760/EUR 0.644)

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