“Waves are already concentrated solar energy”, says Michael Ottaviano, who leads a Western Australian firm that is developing a method to convert wave power into electricity.  He believes that wave power has the potential to supply all of Australia’s needs many times over.

Ottaviano heads Carnegie Corp. that has developed the technique of using the energy from waves to generate high-pressure sea water.  This is then  piped onshore to drive a turbine to create desalinated water. 

At a depth of 15 to 50 metres deep a series of large buoys are anchored and tethered to piston pumps.  These pumps are driven by the rise and fall of passing waves generating water pressure of up to 1000 pounds per square inch.  This then drives the onshore turbine which forces the water through a membrane which separates out the salt creating fresh water.  Normally this process would require a great deal of electricity.  The Ceto pumps are named after a Greek mythical sea creature.

In partnership with Renewable Energy Holdings of Britain and EDF of France, Carnegie Corp is looking for a site for the first commercial demonstration plant in Australia.  A plant producing 50 megawatts, enough to power a large town, would require a site of 5ha of sea bed and would cost in the region of 300 – 400 million Australian dollars.

Sites that look promising are Albany in the South and Garden Island off Perth.