Port Fairy project

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The Port Fairy Pilot Wave Energy Project involves the design, construction, installation and testing of a full-scale bioWAVE pilot plant equipped with a 250kW O-Drive module.  Design and project development were completed during 2012-2014.  The bioWAVE unit was constructed during 2014-2015, and project installation (including onshore equipment, subsea cable, bioWAVE and O-Drive) was completed during 2015-2016.  The project is scheduled for operation and testing during 2017. Data acquired from the project, and experience gained, will be used in the further commercialisation of the bioWAVE and O-Drive concepts.

  • The bioWAVE pilot project is located near Port Fairy, Victoria Australia, with full exposure to Southern Ocean swell;
  • The project is intended to test and demonstrate the bioWAVE and O-Drive technologies at a full-scale grid-connected site for up to 12 months;
  • Funding for the project has been provided by BPS, ETIS (Vic. Government), and ARENA (Aust. Government).

 

Documents and Notices

  • Community Consultation Plan

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  • Environmental Management Plan

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  • Exclusion Zone Map

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  • Notice to Mariners 1

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  • Notice to Mariners 2

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Port Fairy project updates

10-Feb-2017

New cable installed

The new subsea cable for the bioWAVE project has been installed (see News), replacing a previous cable that was damaged in 2016 and removed.  The new 1100m subsea electro-optical cable (containing power transmission conductors and fibre-optic lines) was procured from Western Australia, and required bespoke engineering and manufacturing of a subsea-rated connector system on the offshore end.  The cable is encased in a triple-wound galvanised steel wire armour, and housed within an articulated iron pipe system.  The multi-stage installation procedure involved laying out the cable on the beach, fitting the iron pipe sections to the cable, then attaching flotation units, and launching the cable into the lagoon at Taylors Bay.  The entire cable length was temporarily moored in the lagoon before being towed out across the reef and sunk into position.  BPS is now awaiting suitable weather to make the remaining connections and to complete commissioning.


 

05-Dec-2016

Onshore Activities

Over the past two weeks BPS and sub-contractors have been working on the shore area of Taylors Bay to set up a new armoured subsea cable segment for the wave energy project.  This activity has been completed, and we are now awaiting suitable weather for placing the cable segment offshore.  We appreciate the involvement of BirdLife Australia to help us avoid any impact on the native bird habitats in the region.

Other projects

BPS is currently developing a pipeline of future wave and tidal energy projects. Project sites have been identified in Australia and USA, and further project sites are under investigation.  

Development of the Port Fairy site for follow-on testing of bioWAVE technologies, or for expansion, may be considered following assessment of the outcomes of the current project.

BPS is currently pursuing new project opportunities targeting micro-grid, off-grid, and island locations.


 

  • BPS has identified project sites in Australia and USA and has completed various stages of feasibility, permitting, and design;
  • New island-based and remote-location sites are being identified for early market penetration;
  • Project economics are viable in the near-term, based on displacement of diesel fuel supply in isolated locations;
  • Next-generation BPS technologies are being designed to be equally applicable to remote-location installations and mainland grid supply.
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