CETO

CETO-unit

CETO is a wave-energy technology that converts ocean swells into renewable power and desalinated freshwater. It was developed by Carnegie Wave Energy Limited, an Australian ASX-listed inventor and owner of the patented device. Carnegie raised over $45m to fund the development of the technology which it has tested off Fremantle, and in early 2015 commissioned a production installation connected to the grid. All the electricity generated is being purchased to run HMAS Stirling naval base at Garden Island, Western Australia. Some of the energy will also be used directly to desalinate water.

CETO is designed to be a simple and robust wave technology. CETO is the only ocean-tested wave-energy technology globally that is both fully submerged and generates power and or desalinated water onshore. The CETO technology has been independently verified by Energies Nouvelles (EDF EN) and the French naval contractor DCNS.[1]

Technology

Named after a Greek ocean goddess, Ceto, the system distinguishes itself from other traditional wave-energy devices in being a fully submerged, pumping technology that drives the hydraulic fluid onshore. Submerged buoys are moved up and down by the ocean swell, driving pumps that pressurize seawater delivered ashore by a subsea pipeline. Once onshore, the high-pressure seawater is used to drive hydro-electric turbines, generating zero-emission electricity. The high-pressure seawater can also be used to supply a reverse osmosis desalination plant, creating zero-emission freshwater. Conventional seawater desalination plants are large emitters of greenhouse gases; this is due to the amount of energy required to drive the grid-connected pumps that deliver the high-pressure seawater to reverse osmosis membranes for the removal of the salt.[2]

Traditionally, wave technologies are characterised as offshore, floating power stations.

Commercial demonstration and independent verification of results

On completion of Stage 1 of the Perth Wave Energy Project, Carnegie enlisted Frazer-Nash Consultancy Ltd to verify the CETO 3 unit's measured and modelled capacity. During the CETO 3 in-ocean trial, Frazer–Nash verified the peak measured capacity to be 78 kW and delivered a sustained pressure of 77 bar, above what is required for seawater reverse-osmosis desalination.

Projects

Perth Wave Energy Project (PWEP)

Stage 1, already been completed, involved the manufacture, deployment and testing of a single commercial-scale autonomous CETO unit off Garden Island. For this stage, the CETO unit was not connected to shore but was stand-alone and autonomous, providing telemetric data back to shore for confirmation and independent verification of the unit's performance.

Stage 2 involves the design, construction, deployment and operational performance evaluation of a grid-connected commercial-scale wave-energy demonstration project, also at Garden Island. The facility will consist of multiple submerged CETO units in an array, subsea pipeline(s) to shore, hydraulic conditioning equipment, and an onshore power generation facility.

In early 2015 a $100 million, multi megawatt system was connected to the grid, with all the electricity being bought to power HMAS Stirling naval base. Two fully submerged buoys which are anchored to the seabed, transmit the energy from the ocean swell through hydraulic pressure onshore; to drive a generator for electricity, and also to produce fresh water. As of 2015 a third buoy is planned for installation.[3][4]

La Réunion Wave Energy Project

The Réunion Island project is a joint venture between Carnegie and EDF Energies Nouvelles. The project will initially consist of the deployment of a single, autonomous commercial scale unit (stage 1) which will be followed by a 2MW plant (stage 2) and a further expansion of the project to a nominal 15MW installed capacity (stage 3). Stage 1 has been awarded $5M of French government funding.

Ireland Wave Energy Project

Carnegie has signed a formal funding and collaboration agreement with the Irish Government's Sustainable Energy Association (SEAI) for a €150,000 project to evaluate potential CETO wave sites in Ireland and develop a site-specific conceptual design. The project is 50% funded by the SEAI and 50% by Carnegie, and forms the first phase of detailed design for a potential 5 MW commercial demonstration project in Irish waters. The project was under way in 2011 and is being managed through Carnegie's Irish subsidiary, CETO Wave Energy Ireland Limited.[1]

Relationships

Other wave energy and CETO characteristics

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Carnegie Wave Energy, 2011. Available from <http://www.carnegiewave.com/> [19 May 2011]
  2. ↑ Desalination, 2010. Available from <http://www.environment.gov.au/soe/2006/publications/emerging/desal/index.html> [10 May 2011]
  3. ↑ "WA wave energy project turned on to power naval base at Garden Island". ABC News Online. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 18 February 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  4. ↑ Downing, Louise (February 19, 2015). "Carnegie Connects First Wave Power Machine to Grid in Australia". BloombergBusiness. Bloomberg. Retrieved 20 February 2015.

External links