M4 Wave Energy Demonstration Project
Demonstrating the potential of wave resources in the Great Southern
The ‘Moored MultiMode Multibody’ (M4) Wave Energy Demonstration Project designed, constructed, deployed, operated and decommissioned a wave energy converter in Albany’s outer harbour, King George Sound. The M4 device is surface-riding, with two frame segments on floater buoys, generating electricity through the flexing motion in the hinge.
- - the potential of the wave resources in the Great Southern to power the local economy and develop an export industry;
- - the capabilities of the local supply chain in undertaking large scale ocean energy projects;
- -the efficiency of the M4 wave energy technology
The Device
The M4 is an attenuator type of wave energy converter, consisting of multiple floats connected by beams above the water. In the Albany demonstration device, three rows of floats are arranged in a 1-2-1 float array, with float diameter increasing from front to rear. The centre float hinge allows relative rotation between the front and rear beams, producing power from this angular rotation under wave action. A single point mooring and the relative sizing of the floats allow the structure to naturally weathervane.
Electricity from wave action is supplemented by two small wind turbines and a solar array which are used for data collection and transmission. The demonstration model is scaled to 24 m length and absorbs 1-10kW in the target sea-states of King George Sound. Sensors feed real-time, in situ data on device performance including energy production, motions, etc. to on-board systems.
The Great Southern coast boasts one of the world’s best wave energy resources for power density and consistency. A grid connection point exists at the Albany Windfarm at Moodrenup/Sandpatch for a future full-size wave energy converter. The M4 Project established a potential nursery site for wave energy technology testing and uses a reduced-scale converter to model the potential for wave energy in decarbonising nearby end user operations such as the Albany Shellfish Hatchery and Albany’s Historic Whaling Station on the Torndirrup Peninsula.
The M4 Project is a partnership between UWA Marine Energy Research Australia (MERA), the Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre, and the WA Government Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) with:
- BMT
- HM4 WavePower Ltd
- Huon Aquaculture
- Albany Shellfish Hatchery
- University of Tasmania
- University of Queensland
- Climate-KIC Australia (AOEG)
The total project cash value is $4 million of which the majority is re-invested in the supply chain of local businesses and Albany-based MERA staff. The M4 technology is non-commercial and based on the design developed by project partners at the University of Manchester, UK.
