BioPower Systems expects to commence works at the site by the end of this year and to initially produce energy using a 250kW bioWAVE ocean wave energy system. A commercial wave farm using an array of larger 1MW bioWAVE units would follow.
Preliminary assessments suggest that the site could accommodate up to 100MW of installed capacity, which would provide renewable energy for up to 55,000 Victorian households. Investigations and planning for the first phase of the project have commenced.
Pre-development work at the site was conducted by Diamond Energy, an Australian company that develops accredited renewable energy projects and also retails clean electricity. Diamond Energy conducted investigative studies to confirm suitability of the marine site and capacity of the local power distribution grid.
Tony Sennitt, managing director of Diamond Energy, said: “Port Fairy is an ideal location for establishing a wave energy farm. Not only does this region have the highest wave energy levels in the state of Victoria, development of the project supports the local community by creating up to 200 new jobs through the development, commercialisation and production stages.”
