A Whangarei company is proposing to channel the power of the ocean to free Stewart Island of some of its reliance on diesel generators for electricity production.
Tangaroa Energy directors Kevin McGrath said the device, harnessing Norwegian technology, could be a world first and start New Zealand on the path of using wave power as a reliable and renewable source of generation.
Mr. McGrath’s company has signed on with Norwegian firm Langlee Wave Power.
The device, planned to sit off the east coast of Stewart Island, could generate about 250 gigawatt hours a year.
The proposal is to build the device at half-scale measuring about 8m by 8m, which protrudes about 2m above the water line.
It differed from other sea-driven electricity projects, with generation from wave action instead of tidal forces, he said.
Energy is absorbed from wave motion when submerged moving water wings drive a hydraulic system and power electric generators.
He believed a full-scale version could provide enough electricity for the entire island.
And if the first attempt succeeded, the company would investigate a full-scale commercial device in either Southland, the West Coast or Canterbury, Mr. McGrath said.
Stewart Island was chosen for a variety of reasons, including helping the community become more self-sufficient and there was a quality source of wave power nearby, he said. If the proposal went ahead, it would be a win-win situation for both his company and the island – they got clean electricity and the company got some exposure for doing it, he said.
But there is a hurdle in the way – money.
While Mr. McGrath was confident of securing the $1.8 million needed to fund the project he was hopeful some of that would come from the Government’s marine energy deployment fund.
If that was obtained he believed it would be easier to attract investors to make up the difference.
Even if he did not acquire government funding he was hopeful he could get funding from different streams.
Venture Southland enterprise and strategic projects group manager Steve Canny said although the project was in its infancy, the idea had merit.
If successful, the Langlee device could provide the community with a valuable and renewable energy source, he said.
Stewart Islanders faced challenges with their electricity supply because of generation using a fuel consistently increasing in price, he said.
Without other sources of electricity, development on the island could also be restricted, Mr. Canny said.
There were different options being investigated for the island including wind power, but he would watch with interest to see if Mr. McGrath’s project succeeded. Mr. McGrath will host public meetings at the South Sea Hotel on Stewart Island on April 17 at 2pm and at the Kelvin Hotel in Invercargill on April 19 at 6pm to discuss the proposal.
