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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 496 asked in the Legislative Council on 12 August 2021 by Hon Dr Steve Thomas

Parliament: 41 Session: 1

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.