The second CETO 5 unit was successfully installed in one day and has now been operating for a little over a week. The sea state conditions experienced during this initial operational period have included waves up to 3.5m in height. The Unit is operating in line with expectations alongside the first CETO 5 unit, installed in November last year. The first CETO 5 unit has now been operating for over 1700 hours, and has experienced a range of sea states, including waves up to 3.8m in height.
Both units are generating electricity against a load bank onshore, with the Project awaiting final approval from Western Power to transfer power into the grid at HMAS Stirling.
Carnegie’s Managing Director, Dr Michael Ottaviano, said:
"The successful installation of our second CETO 5 unit is an important event, as is achieving our stated aim of installation in a day. The integration of multiple wave energy convertors is critical to demonstrating the principles of future CETO wave farms. With the recent completion of onshore plant and grid connection works, we are eagerly anticipating the world-first milestone of feeding electricity into the grid at HMAS Stirling."
Next Steps
The third and final CETO 5 unit has been moved to the Australian Maritime Complex (AMC) in Henderson for final fit out ahead of its installation. The AMC is a world class marine industrial facility and will also be the likely staging point for Carnegie’s CETO 6 Project.
Current plans have Unit 3 deployment taking place after an initial Unit 2 run of some 30 days or so, subject to suitable weather conditions, and timed to coincide with the retrieval of the first CETO 5 Unit for onshore inspection. Amongst other objectives, the 3rd CETO 5 Unit will be used to demonstrate operation and maintenance methodologies and, as such, may be held onshore for longer than 30 days to minimise installation and retrieval costs should Unit 1 continue to operate without needing to be retrieved onshore.
Background
The Perth Wave Energy Project has been under construction for approximately 12 months beginning with the installation of the CETO 5 unit offshore foundations last summer. The construction was proceeded by some 2 years of design, approvals, offtake, financing and procurement activity. More than $30m has been invested in the design, development and construction of the project. The CETO technology takes a unique approach to wave power by generating both power and water from the ocean swell while remaining fully submerged beneath the ocean surface, increasing its ability to survive large storms.
