Biopower down under

Australian ocean power company BioPower Systems has commenced work on a renewable energy project to test two unique ocean power technologies in Tasmania, Australia.

The bioWAVE wave power system and bioSTREAM tidal power system are designed to move and respond in a similar manner to ocean plants and fish, while efficiently extracting power from the waves and tidal streams.

BioPower’s chief executive officer, Dr Tim Finnigan, said the company was preparing for full-scale system deployment and operation.

'This project will allow us to develop the technologies to be ready for commercial production within a couple of years,' he said.

Preferred deployment sites have been identified on the west coast of King Island for the bioWAVE wave power system and near Flinders Island for the bioSTREAM tidal power system.

'We aim to have both systems connected to the distribution grids with preliminary discussions already held with Hydro Tasmania, which provides power on both islands,' Dr Finnigan said.