ALBANY WAVE ENERGY
PROJECT — CARNEGIE CLEAN ENERGY
496. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the Minister for Regional
Development:
I
refer to the Wave Energy Research Centre in Albany, which was announced in 2017—at
the same time as the failed $15.75 million Carnegie Energy project—and
opened in November 2019 and funded by a $3.75 million royalties for regions
grant.
(1) How much of the $3.75 million
has now been acquitted?
(2) How much of the $3.75 million is
unspent?
(3) What research papers or other
outcomes has the Wave Energy Research Centre delivered?
(4) How will the government measure the success or
failure of this project, and has that determination been made?
(5) Based on the research of the centre, will the
government invest in wave energy projects in Albany in the future?
Hon
ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:
I thank the member for this
question. I want to set the context because some people may be led into error
by some of the provocative features of the question and I just want to set the
record straight.
We had a common-user infrastructure
project with Carnegie Energy. When it went into temporary administration, we
terminated that contract. We paid a total of $1.4 million in respect of the
early work that was done on that project. That information—all the data
and studies that were paid for in that $1.4 million—is now a public
resource and provides useful information for energy in shipping industries. Our
government's support for the marine energy sector, and in particular
our $3.75 million investment in the UWA Wave Energy Research Centre, has been a
great success story. The centre currently
employs more than 30 researchers, supports a knowledge hub for wave, tidal and
offshore energy industries, as well as a research facility to support
large-scale commercial deployments of offshore renewable energy. The centre
also supports research for local marine-based industries.
(1) The project
is still active. Funding will not be acquitted until the completion of the
project.
(2) I understand only around $3 000
is yet to be granted.
(3) The member
will be incredibly pleased to know that, to date, 43 peer review research
papers have been published by the centre. Of note, three common-user datasets
that are related to the wave energy resource and coastal conditions at the
Torbay site are available for the public and wave energy developers at the
centre's website.
(4) Just last
year researchers from the centre were selected to join the newly established
Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre, a federal government initiative,
investigating the sustainable use of ocean resources to drive economic growth.
A financial assistance agreement between the state government and UWA has been signed. It specifies that there will
be a report on key performance indicators, looking at scientific
research, community outreach, industry engagement and regional impacts. When
the project is fully completed, on the indications today—as I said, 43
peer reviewed research papers, plus numerous community engagement exercises—there
is no doubt it will be judged a success.
(5) The research
is telling us that there is potential for other wave and offshore energy
systems to play a role in decarbonising our economy, and we will remain open to
all opportunities.