Australia waves hello to ocean energy

Clean renewable energy from harnessing ocean waves can be a critical enabler in helping Australia achieve its Net Zero targets — and we are uniquely well-placed to lead in this space, a new report shows.

Commissioned by the Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre and led by a team of researchers at The University of Western Australia’s Ocean Institute, the Ocean Wave Energy in Australia report details the opportunities, application, integration and development of an ocean energy industry in Australia.

With the world’s largest and most consistent national wave energy resource along Australia’s southern coast, there is immediate potential for renewable energy development — but the report also shows that there is even more value in waves.

Wave energy can be highly complementary to solar and dispatched to coastal electricity grids, reducing the need for battery storage as part of resilient clean energy systems, while wave energy converting technologies can potentially be co-located with offshore wind installations and play a role in coastal protection.

UWA Oceans Institute director Professor Christophe Gaudin says the report has gathered the expertise of leading scientists in the country to demonstrate the potential of ocean energy in Australia.

“We hope that this document can assist policymakers and decision-makers to support the development of wave energy and to accelerate decarbonisation of the Australian economy,” he said.

The International Energy Agency has forecast the ocean energy sector to grow to more than 300GW by 2050, with Europe and other regions advancing wave energy through funding support and policy — but Australia is yet to tap into its share of these deployments and their economic benefits and jobs.

In addition to its natural assets, the report also highlights how Australia already has world-class research, innovation and technology development capabilities and expertise, with a skilled workforce to support the wave energy industry.

Despite all its strategic advantages, Australia currently lacks the vision, strategy and support required to match its immense potential.

UWA research fellow Dr Hugh Wolgamot, one of the report’s lead authors, says the overarching recommendation of the report is that federal and state governments in Australia should take a strategic view of the wave energy industry.

“This will help us can get maximum national benefit from this potentially critical resource,” he said.