Hobart Mercury
Monday 5/1/2009 Page: 16
TWO ocean-wave sensors have been deployed off King Island to collect climate information over the next three months. King Island Mayor Charles Arnold said Sydney-based wave energy development company Oceanlinx deployed the sensors off the west coast of the Bass Strait island in mid-December. The sensor placement is another step in the island's push for alternative energy sources. "This development has been driven by King Island residents, local industries and the council, with financial support in place for the project," Cr Arnold said.
Oceanlinx has been developing its wave energy converter over 10 years with the first prototype launched at Port Kembla in 2003. The Hydro has recently completed a grid interconnection study. Earlier this year it was announced that BioPower Systems, also from Sydney, had secured a deal with the Hydro to harness the ocean's energy to generate enough electricity to supply about 500 homes on King and Flinders Islands. It is at the trial stage. Cr Arnold hoped that ocean power could be supplied at a cheaper rate than the 22.5c a kW residents currently pay for diesel power. He said the island wanted to reduce reliance on diesel generators from 50% to 10%.
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