PUBLIC LECTURE: UWA Albany Public Lecture

Ocean waves are created by winds blowing over the surface of the ocean for potentially hundreds of kilometers. In this manner, the energy in the wind becomes more and more concentrated in swells that can propagate further hundreds of kilometers. In fact, because the wind blows over such large regions of the water and for such long durations, the energy contained in the waves are orders of magnitudes higher than that contained in the wind itself.

The goal of the wave energy industry is to capture this power. Devices known as wave energy converters (WECs) are placed out at sea and, in one way or another, convert the periodic motion of the waves into the electricity we can use in our everyday activities. Although we know that waves contain an exceptionally high concentration of energy, and in places such as Sand Patch Beach occur with similar ferocity all year round, the optimal way of designing, deploying, and maintaining WECs is still work in progress.

In this presentation Dr Skene will talk about the current state of the wave energy industry, the past challenges faced by the industry, and what needs to be done in the future for WECs to become part of the renewable energy mix. Dr Skene will put a particular focus on the activities of The University of Western Australia’s Wave Energy Research Centre in Albany and Perth.