VIC:Wave energy to power 300 Victorian homes

AAP General News (Australia)
12-02-2011
VIC:Wave energy to power 300 Victorian homes

MELBOURNE, Dec 2 AAP - A world-first wave energy project which mimics the movement
of seaweed and kelp through the water will power hundreds of homes in Victoria's southwest.

The $14 million BioWAVE project is a single wave energy unit that will be anchored
to the sea floor 30 metres underwater and about 800 metres from the shore at a site four
kilometres west of Port Fairy.

The 450kW unit will be connected to the energy grid and power 300 homes by early 2013.

The project is an example of biomimicry, in which biological traits are used in engineered
systems.

The Victorian government has put $5 million towards the project and other partners
include AGL Energy Bluescope Steel, Lend Lease, Swinburne University, the University of
Melbourne and the University of Sydney.

Energy and Resources Minister Michael O'Brien said the project would also support the
local economy and jobs.

AAP mok/ce/it

KEYWORD: WAVE

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