Impact Pillar 3

Scaling Offshore Energy Developments

Demonstrating opportunities for the development of offshore renewable energy – including offshore wind and wave energy – as a key enabler of decarbonisation, particularly through novel off-grid applications. This includes addressing community acceptance, supporting fit-for-purpose planning and licensing frameworks, understanding supply chains, and developing and demonstrating technologies that contribute to net-zero emissions targets.

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Accelerating commercial-scale open ocean aquaculture production by advancing regulatory frameworks, optimising technologies, increasing productivity and efficiency while reducing emissions, ensuring environmental sustainability and developing fit-for-purpose aquaculture production systems.

OUTCOMES

  • 1
    Develop and field-test innovative wave energy converters and power take-off systems (such as the M4 device, CETO mooring tensioner, and MoorPower), advancing technical readiness for commercial deployment.
  • 2
    Quantify the potential contribution of offshore wind and ocean energy to Australia’s future energy mix and decarbonisation goals, strengthening the case for national investment in offshore renewables.
  • 3
    Identify social licence considerations for offshore energy developments, supporting community acceptance and the responsible scaling of low-emission, ocean-based energy solutions.
  • 4
    Inform strategic planning and decision-making through the development of marine spatial planning tools, regulatory studies, and recommendations for fit-for-purpose licensing frameworks.
  • 5
    Assess offshore renewable energy supply chains and future workforce needs to support the development of decarbonised marine industries and a just transition to net-zero.
  • 6
    Evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of deploying floating offshore wind technology (such as Saitec’s DemoSATH) in Australia, paving the way for future large-scale projects.
  • 7
    Conduct a detailed assessment of aquaculture’s operational parameters and energy demands, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and displace fossil fuels through offshore renewable energy solutions, including powering feed barges with technologies like MoorPower.
  • 8
    Develop a framework for risk assessment methods, decision-support tools, and a set of procedures that will enhance safety, value-adding and cost-effectiveness of offshore energy systems.

Our efforts under Impact Pillar 3 will contribute to the following Sustainable Development Goals:

CASE STUDY

SEEDING MARINE INNOVATION IN WA WITH A WAVE ENERGY DEPLOYMENT IN ALBANY

Offshore industries like aquaculture are interested in wave power, but do not have access to any data which can inform them about its performance, or the practicalities of deploying this solution. Government shares a similar challenge, with the lack of data inhibiting development of policy and regulation.

The M4 Wave Energy Converter (WEC) project was developed to provide open-access data to uplift the industry as a whole, while also demonstrating local capability to construct and operate such a device. The State Government of Western Australia contributed significantly as a funding partner, drawing on skills and contributions from a broad network of partners from across the Blue Economy CRC network and local contractors in Albany.

The M4 Wave Energy Converter was selected as the suitable technology because of its open philosophy, proven development track and suitability for the proposed test site in Albany.

READ FULL CASE STUDY

PILLAR 3

PROJECTS

  • 1.25.001

    MoorPower Commercial Pilot: Preliminary Design Project

  • 3.23.002

    TASDEMO – Floating Offshore Wind Technology Demonstration

  • 5.22.001

    Pre-conditions for the Development of Offshore Wind Energy in Australia

  • 3.21.005

    Risk-based Procedures for Safe and Reliable ORES

  • 3.21.004

    Seeding Marine Innovation in WA with a Wave Energy Deployment in Albany

  • 3.24.001

    Ocean Wave Energy in Australia

  • 1.21.001

    Moorpower – Scaled Demonstrator

  • 5.20.003

    Logistics Challenges to Offshore/High Energy Co-Location of Aquaculture & Energy Industries

  • 3.20.002

    Offshore/High Energy Sustainable Hybrid Power Systems

  • offshore waters for aquaculture
    3.21.001

    OES Study on the energy requirements of offshore aquaculture as a market for OE

  • offshore wind energy in australia
    3.20.007

    Offshore Wind Potential for Australia

  • 3.20.006

    Mooring Tensioner for WECs – MoTWEC

PILLAR 3

PhD STUDENTS

  • Dr Yuan Zhen Cai

    School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, University of Queensland

  • Dr Christine Lynggard Hansen

    The University of Western Australia

  • Qinming Wu

    University of Western Australia

  • Harrison Carmody

    The University of Western Australia

  • Fida Ali

    Griffith University

  • Reza Abbasi

    University of Queensland

  • Benhur Joseph Raju

    University of Tasmania

  • Bawantha Indrajith

    University of Technology Sydney

  • Shujian Ma

    School of Engineering, University of Tasmania

Impact
Pillar 1

Developing Open Ocean Aquaculture

Impact
Pillar 2

Accelerating Decarbonisation in the Blue Economy

Impact
Pillar 4

Integrating Ocean Use

Impact
Pillar 5

Optimising Ocean Governance & Stewardship